Truck is making a vibration type of noise, while the front axle is moving. Think of there being a rock in the tired and you would hear the rock everytime it hit the ground, like that (except its definitely not the tires). Thinking it is a wheel bearing issue, except I believe wheel bearing issues dont make a sound at lower speeds? And you can hear this when coming to a stop (not sure about take off as the glass pack overwelms the sound of everything). I did check to make sure it was not the breaks. Plan tonight is to jack her up and try all the normal easy checks, rotation of the wheel, determining if its on one side or the other (believe its drivers). Hoping its not the drive shaft either. My dad thinks it could be the U joints. Any recommendations for things to specifically look at? Ways to test it would be appreciated! (Also it seems to go away when turning, like a wheel bearing would)

Forgot to add, last night when i could hear this and pulled over to the side of the road, there was a slight smell of burning rubber. Once again, checked the tires and nothing was hot, nothing was burning. Could only smell it when i was under the truck though, did not seem to have the sent under the hood. (left it at a friends over night)

 

Basically, touch EVERYTHING. If it moves, shake it, make sure it only moves the way it should, and doesn't have any slop that shouldn't be there.

Also, check the serpentine belt, and all your pulleys on the front of the motor. (might be belt burning that you smell.)

 

As a reminder, 12 and 6 does what? and 3 and 9 does what?

Also, the first part of that "Basically, touch EVERYTHING. If it moves, shake it, make sure it only moves the way it should, and doesn't have any slop that shouldn't be there." sounds like me going to the club!

 

12 and 6 checks balljoints/hub bearing.

3 and 9 checks steering linkage, and hub/bearing....

I didn't need to know that.....

 

Sounds good, I will go check the truck (probably be in about 2 hours) and see how she goes. Will also check for leaks. But on a 98, things seem to leak anyway. Just a little bit of a fact of age i believe.

 

I had a noise like that and it ended up being the front u joint right on the axle at the tire. Drove me nuts and it got louder the longer it let it go. It started out doing it at low speeds then all the time after a month or two.

 

So I replaced the hub assembly yesterday on drivers front (no local parts stores had just the bearings). Went very well, I am pleased! I will do the passenger front side sometimes this week, and in probably about 1/3 of the time due to my newly learned experiences :P As for the u-joint, I checked it while I was in there, all is good. Thanks for the help guys, problem solved