Rhythmic squeak/noise from front

hikerboy · May 19, 2018

My '05 Z-71 Sierra has developed a rhythmic "whish-whish" or squeak that seems to be wheel speed dependent. I can mainly hear it at slower speeds in quiet residential areas (15-25 mph). It seems to be coming from the front drivers side wheel, but hard to tell, could be from underneath the truck as well. U-joints seem solid, original units with 95,000 miles. Hub bearings seem solid (no play or growling noises), but sound does change when I turn wheels from left to right. I had the drivers side CV shaft replaced a few years ago, and I've noticed some oily residue on the CV shaft but the boots appear to be in good shape. Front pinion seal replaced a year ago by GM dealer. Brakes are good, sound does not change when applying the brakes.

Any thoughts? My experience with hubs has been they growl or roar when bad, and CV joints click or pop when going bad, and U-joints wiggle when bad.....

Thanks!

Supreme Pizza · May 19, 2018

Is the rotor heat/mud shield rubbing against the rotor?

hikerboy · May 20, 2018

Nope, appears to be normal clearance. No squeak when rotating the wheel by hand, either.

Supreme Pizza · May 20, 2018

Are you driving in "4 Auto", or "2x4" mode?

Have you tried shutting the engine off and coasting, to see if the sound is still there?

Smitty807 · May 21, 2018

That’s funny you say that, on my ‘11 Silverado I have a very similar discription of a whish sound going around the same speed from driver side front. It’s been there for a few solid months only thing I could see is the wheel bearing even though it doesn’t seem to have play at all or rust/oil around the cv boots. Rotors and pads are new and shield is not scraping the rotor.

hikerboy · May 21, 2018

Noise is in 2WD or 4WD. Coasting or in drive.

Supreme Pizza · May 21, 2018

What about putting the whole vehicle up on jack-stands, and running it at about 20 mph in 4x4 mode. Perhaps you could locate the noise that way. You could also duct tape your phone to the front suspension with it recording video, and test drive the rig.

PTXer · May 21, 2018

Mine "squeaked" like that too when I first bought the truck with 100K on it. The pads and rotors had just been replaced so I thought it was just those components getting settled in. Turned out to be the hub bearings. Never did really growl. Next thing that happened was pieces parts started falling out. Luckily was a quarter mile from home and got it parked before it totally fell off.

Supreme Pizza · May 21, 2018

I would think that the bearing is bad. Bad bearings don't always have play.

zrock · May 21, 2018

Good timing I just noticed the same thing driving through the drive through. Sounds like rubber squeek

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hikerboy · May 22, 2018

I'm taking the truck to a local independent shop tomorrow for a diagnosis. Will update when I hear back!

Supreme Pizza · May 22, 2018

I would recommend getting a "repair estimate", rather than a "diagnostic". One is free, the other is not - but the results are the same.

hikerboy · May 25, 2018

2 bad wheel bearing hubs....just had both replaced, and now silence! Replaced with a pair of Moog units. Local independent shop did the work, owned by a former GM dealer technician.