I've got about 300 miles on my new-to-me '97 and I have a humming noise from the LF wheel area that I need help figuring out.

I notice it at 45/50mph and higher, and I can't make it change with loading or unloading the LF. It is not constantly loud, but rather it comes in waves, louder, then softer, louder than softer. Above 70mph it gets pretty bad, but then 80/85 it evens out and seems quieter (but that's probably because the engine noise is canceling it out!)

Tires are almost new, so I know its not that.

The truck does pull/jerk to the left pretty bad when you stomp hard on the brakes, but the LF wheel does not get hot, which would indicate a grabbing caliper.

What are the wheel bearings like on these '97s ? Serviceable as in: take it apart, clean, regrease and put back in? Or are they integrated with the hub?

Does a wheel bearing sound like my problem?

Any ideas would be good.

Thanks!

 

Only answer I can give is that they are throw away integrated hub and bearing systems on the front of these trucks .There are a few aftermarket kits available which replace the hub, bearing and spindle with the old serviceable style with manual locking hubs. They aren't cheap but once you install them you can repack the bearing an hopefully increase fuel economy. As far as the noise from the front left I wouldn't be driving to far or to fast without getting the bearing checked out somehow.