Thanks, I think you are right. After looking at the service manual, I think that is the problem too.

Mister Willie, I am sorry for posting questions in your thread. It kinda sounded like we had a similar problem And I kinda got carried away. Didn't mean to steal it. Sorry__Allen

 

Guys, similar problem here, front left noise as well. It does, however, go away when the truck warms up. 1990 with auto hubs. Only happens in extremely cold weather. As I increase speed, it increases intensity, and decreases with slowing down. Thought it could have been a brake issue but there's no fade, etc.

Best way I can describe it is a rubbing sound, like the wheel wants to move slower than the axle.

Is it possible to eliminate this by rebuilding the hubs? I've spun bearings on other vehicles before and its a constant sound regardless of speed. Plus it doesn't increase/change going into and out of turns, or once the truck is warmed thoroughly.

 

Does the bump cause a jerk in steering too, or just noise?... if so, it could be an idler arm

 

No change in steering/brakes or even ride difference, though its most active over expansion joints, potholes, etc. I had the steering control arm replaced last year under the recall...

What gets me is that it goes away after it warms up. Completely. Couldn't replicate the issue post-warm up.

Clarify the warm up:

I started it up at work, let it idle (its been idling VERY high lately bc of the extremely cold weather, around 1800 rpm, then dropped to about 1300 rpm, then eventually to just under 1000 rpm) to the point where the oil temp gauge started to move. I drove it very slowly under low throttle until the gauge hit the middle and the motor was warm. Still bumping although it was loud, it wasn't constant. It would go away and then come back as soon as I hit a bump. In Baltimore, there's a lotta them!

Once i got to about 40 MPH it went away, and on the highway, at speeds up to 65MPH no issue. Didn't go over 65. Off ramps, roughed up roads, etc, and still no noise. No torn CV, the CV doesn't move at all, actually.

I thought about the shock issue, but since it modulates with speed, I doubt its suspension-related.

 

Bump... cause I'm baffled...

 

just throwing it out there, spindle bushings? Been a rash of those posts on this site because of the weather, just search "spindle bushings" and read the threads. I could be wayyy off Is the vehicle in 4wheel drive when it makes this noise or does it do it all the time?