This noise has been driving me insane for a couple months now. Its on the rear driver side. It sounds like a rubbing sound but nothing is rubbing. Ive taken the wheel off and it still makes the sound. So i thought maybe the brakes or a warped rotor. But today I took the brakes off and it still makes the sound (the inner brake pad is wearing unevenly though.) The sound corresponds with the rotation of the wheel and occurs at the same spot every time. and as my speed increases the frequency of the sound increases. at high speeds this creates just a constant whirring sound.

 

so just to be clear, you took the caliper and rotor off and spun the wheel bearing and it was making the noise? only thing it could be is a bad wheel bearing.

 

no i didnt have time today to take off the caliper/rotor. i just took the brakes and the piston off and spun it. i guess the next step is ill have to take off the rotor and caliper and spin it then. thatll leave the wheel bearing as the only culprit right?

 

I'd say wheel bearing.

 

alright. are wheel bearings one of those things where if you replace 1 youre dumb if you dont replace em all?

 

You can definitely change only one wheel bearing at a time.

I'd suspect you have a warped rotor, try checking it with a dial indicator to be sure but you could just replace it, they are cheap.

Remove it first and spin the hub, but i'd be pretty confident you will find the noise in the rotor touching something.

 

yeah thats what im going to do tomorrow. If i take off the rotor and i still hear that sound ill just replace the wheel bearing. it honestly doesnt seem to affect anything but its enought o drive me insane

 

also side note...when I removed my brakes I didnt have to push the piston back in order to get them back on...is this because i didnt replace the brakes with new ones?

 

You only have to use a piston tool when u change the pads because their thicker

 

UPDATE: Took off the rotor and the noise was still there. went and bought a new hub assembly for about $150. got home and changed it out. sound gone. sweet sweet silence.

thanks guys