2018 2500 humming/droning in the front end? SOLVED!

[Alexx_mz]

Good evening. Maybe someone here can help a fella out. As per the usual, everyone asks questions but never comes back with the resolution. I promise I will update when I figure it out!

Here’s the deal. My wife typically drives my 2500 because I have a work truck I can use as a personal truck essentially. Just hopped in it this Sunday to take it for a spin for the first time in 2-3 months. It’s making a humming/ droning noise that seems to be coming from the front driver side (not guaranteed). I start hearing it pretty early on around 10-15mph and it gets louder as I go. I just put new tires on it 2k miles ago. For the sake of starting the trouble shooting process I rotated the tires today because it sounds like a aggressive tire hum. Made no difference. When I had the front up I spun the wheels and they spin freely. I tried to rock the wheels up down and side to side and don’t see any play. I also turned the wheels a bit and spun them to make sure that it doesn’t bind up. The front drive shaft spins freely and none of the joints seem to have any play.

I should also note that if I’m driving and turn the wheel to the left a bit, that the noise dies down and comes back when I straighten the wheel.

Any ideas? Any help would be appreciate.

 

[tron67j]

Front wheel bearing hub is my guess, sounded exactly like you described all 3 times. Replaced two on my former Ram, just replaced one on Wife's Sienna van.

 

[imahnu17]

Good evening. Maybe someone here can help a fella out. As per the usual, everyone asks questions but never comes back with the resolution. I promise I will update when I figure it out!

Here’s the deal. My wife typically drives my 2500 because I have a work truck I can use as a personal truck essentially. Just hopped in it this Sunday to take it for a spin for the first time in 2-3 months. It’s making a humming/ droning noise that seems to be coming from the front driver side (not guaranteed). I start hearing it pretty early on around 10-15mph and it gets louder as I go. I just put new tires on it 2k miles ago. For the sake of starting the trouble shooting process I rotated the tires today because it sounds like a aggressive tire hum. Made no difference. When I had the front up I spun the wheels and they spin freely. I tried to rock the wheels up down and side to side and don’t see any play. I also turned the wheels a bit and spun them to make sure that it doesn’t bind up. The front drive shaft spins freely and none of the joints seem to have any play.

I should also note that if I’m driving and turn the wheel to the left a bit, that the noise dies down and comes back when I straighten the wheel.

Any ideas? Any help would be appreciate.

Could also potentially be a R&P going out. If that’s the case, typically the pinion bearings will wear out over time and as it spins it can create a hum or whine noise.

You could disconnect your front driveshaft and see if there’s any play in the pinion or you could open the front diff and drain the fluid and look for any metal shavings/bits which may be an indicator.

 

[EdGs]

My vote is on a hub/wheel bearing. Since the sound dies down when turned left = right wheel hub assy (I might be backwards on this).

The sound getting louder with speed is a classic symptom, too.

If the hub is indeed bad, replace them both. Would also recommend OE if possible.

May your repair go smoothly. Pleaae update with what you find.

I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you DO NOT DRIVE it until you get it sorted.

Figure it out and fix it ASAP. You don't want to be like those in the videos where the complete tire goes flying off on the higway. When you are traveling 60mph and the tire assy leaves the truck, it becomes a 100+ pound missile traveing 60mph too.

 

[nlambert182]

That sounds exactly like a wheel hub (wheel bearings). As others have said.. replace them both at the same time. I tried replacing one on my other trucks and it wasn't 2 weeks before the other side went out.

If you don't use the OEM, Precision Hubs (at O'Reilly Auto) make a really good wheel hub assy for these trucks.

If you want to confirm, jack up the front of the truck and spin the wheel. If you hear any grinding or noise, the bearing is bad. It should spin smoothly.

 

[mtnrider]

Could also potentially be a R&P going out. If that’s the case, typically the pinion bearings will wear out over time and as it spins it can create a hum or whine noise.

You could disconnect your front driveshaft and see if there’s any play in the pinion or you could open the front diff and drain the fluid and look for any metal shavings/bits which may be an indicator.

Highly unlikely as the R&P (or driveshaft) doesn't spin unlesss in 4x4. The truck has axle disconnect (CAD) so it's more likely a hub.


.

 

[62Blazer]

That really sounds like a wheel bearing/hub going out. Having the noise change when turning slightly going down the road is a good indicator that is what it is. Change it as soon as possible, and also recommend doing both sides.

 

[Alexx_mz]

I have ordered a set. Just odd because I’m not hearing anything odd when I spin the wheel. Financially banking on it only being a wheel bearing. I’ll update when I get it figured out.

Thank you all

 

[Alexx_mz]

Problem solved!

Was the wheel bearings. Replaced the driver side because the noise would go away when I turned left so I drove it to hopefully fix it and do the other side this weekend. NOPE. Passenger side it was. Quiet as can be again.

Thank you for all the input. I appreciate it tremendously!

 

[EdGs]

Problem solved!

Was the wheel bearings. Replaced the driver side because the noise would go away when I turned left so I drove it to hopefully fix it and do the other side this weekend. NOPE. Passenger side it was. Quiet as can be again.

Thank you for all the input. I appreciate it tremendously!

Thank you for posting the solution to your issue. This is the kind of post that will help others down the line.

 

[mdc1990zr1]

Problem solved!

Was the wheel bearings. Replaced the driver side because the noise would go away when I turned left so I drove it to hopefully fix it and do the other side this weekend. NOPE. Passenger side it was. Quiet as can be again.

Thank you for all the input. I appreciate it tremendously!

Great news! Now if you could tell us what wheel bearing you used and maybe post an update that would really help us when needing to perform this repair in the future.