I recently replaced all 4 wheel bearings to Timken rears and Precision fronts. I have been having some nasty howling that almost completely covers the exhaust note while cruising with the top up between 55 and 65 (faster and the noise is drowned out by wind). If I put my head up by the vent hole by the driver's door while driving, it gets noticeably louder to the point where I'm almost certain it's the driver's front.

-Steering left/right does not affect the pitch
-Replaced both fronts, even tried an old hub to test the driver's side and no change.
-Both rears were pressed in with old races
-Pitch gets lower as I come to a stop, gradually getting lower through the 40 through 15mph range until it's inaudible.
-Clutch in, no change
-Brakes applied while hitting the gas to maintain speed - no change. Note: If I spin my LF wheel the rotor lightly skips on the pads indicating a slight warp. Could the rotors cause this?
-E-Brake applied to no avail.
-Recently got a new alignment. No change to noise whatsoever.
-Replaced tie-rod ends with R-Package ends
-I occasionally get a light 'click' when applying the brakes just before stopping. Sounds like the pads shifting as I lighten brake peddle pressure (unrelated?)
-Rack used to "click" when steering left/right so I tightened the adjuster on the int. shaft.

Any ideas guys? I'm running out of ideas here.. I'm getting an NB front end setup to bolt in in a few weeks that will replace the spindles in case folks think it's those. Also, I'm running original Star Specs, 205/50/15 on 15x8.

 

I remember my diff that was on it's last leg would make a howling/siren sound.

 

Did this noise prompt you to do the bearings?

If you thought your LF rotor/pads were making noise by dragging unnecessarily, I'd think they'd be getting hot, and you'd notice. I've had this happen, but it was a cracked drilled rotor that got hot enough to smoke the brake pad. Dat smell.

What kind of tires are you running? Got another set you can swap on?
I think the most miserable set of tires I owned were either Kumho XS or Z1's. Once they had some track use in them they were godawful loud.

 

It did indeed, I figured by doing one I should just do all of them and be done with it. The LF hub nor wheel is getting hot, in fact none of them are. At least, not without heavy braking.

I'm running 205/50/15 on 15x8 wheels. I've got some used 225 rivals to swap on but haven't gotten to it yet as I just got them.

 

Axle shaft maybe ? When my rears went, I was sure the front bearings we're done from the noise.

 

My friend suggested it could be the speedo cable based on where the noise is coming from. I'll pick up some graphite lubricant from the parts store tomorrow and give it a shot.

 

If you put the car up in the air does it still make the noise?
If you run different tires does it still make the noise?

 

I lubricated the speedo cable and the issue seems to have gone away. Such a weird part to make noise and sound almost the same as a bad wheel bearing..