Front end howling at highway speeds...

[pilotsareplanecrazy]

Lately, I have noticed that my front end will start to hum at about 50mph and get progressively louder until it starts to howl at around 70mph. What I don't understand is that if I turn to the right (winding toll road) it gets REALLY loud, but if I turn to the left, it goes away. I don't think it is anything with the steering linkage, because there is very little vibration coming throught the steering wheel.

Is my front axle in need of a rebuild or is it something else?

 

[beaufort-fj60]

wow, i did not know the 60 would even go 70mph

 

[phantom60]

wow, i did not know the 60 would even go 70mph

...yeah, I'm sure mine would howl too if I tried to make it go 70mph !!!

 

[Man Jerk]

I suppose there is a pretty good chance your wheel bearings are shot. Try feeling your hubs after and see if they are hot.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Def. sounds like wheel bearings are toast on one side (probably left)...

Probably a good time to overhaul both sets of wheel bearings and the knuckles too. There's a couple pages in the Tech section of this site that show what you (or your mechanic) will be doing.

Nick

 

[Tapage]

did your check for grease leaks in your font hubs .. is an visual advice for bad bearings .. inside.

 

[peepers]

I suppose there is a pretty good chance your wheel bearings are shot. Try feeling your hubs after and see if they are hot.

how hot is hot? measurements? both of mine are hot to the touch and there is no way i could grasp it for an extended period of time... NO WAY. so, please measure...

 

[zebrabeefj40]

There's hot from being loose and hot from being too tight or with too little grease in the bearings... Most of my Cruisers might get slightly warm but not so hot you can't hold your hand on them. If you can grill a hotdog on it it's too hot!

Nick

 

[billmc]

There's also way too hot from a rubbing disc pad, so hot doesn't necessarily mean bearings.

Bill

 

[Benji]

If your 60 doesn't go 70 mph, then it's not tuned right (hey I got the joke).

Prolly wheel bearings. I would just do a front end job on it. Prolly needs it anyway.

 

[lovetoski]

how hot is hot? measurements? both of mine are hot to the touch and there is no way i could grasp it for an extended period of time... NO WAY. so, please measure...

Need to do this w/out using the brakes to stop. Heat from the front disks will raise the hub temps. Find a long flat section of freeway, with a safe exit to pull off on. Stop using engine braking and the e-brake. Then measure hub temps. I've measured mine with an infa red thermo, and get around 125 F. Posted this on the 80's forum, and others agreed it was fine. Everyone agreed that you should be able to grab the hub for 10 - 15 secs w/out pain - even after high speeds on a very hot day.