1990 4runner, manual hubs, 3.0, automatic

I have not been able to figure this out for the life of me. It is hard to describe the noise, it is kind of like a whining noise, or maybe a bad bearing noise. It sounds like it is coming from the area around the alternator/distributor. But it is hard to tell because I can not get it to make the noise unless I am driving.

The alternator seems to spin fine and free without the belt on, no binding that I could feel. I replaced the belt as well, and that seemed to fix the noise for a day, but that could have just been a temperature thing.

I replaced the distributor cover this morning, I noticed it had a couple cracks where the spark plug wires attach. But it is only 9 months old and I don't drive a whole lot. I checked the rotor, it didn't feel like it had movement up and down, just a little side to side.

It seems to happen around 25mph now.

Here are a couple videos of the sound, as best I could do



Any ideas would be great, thanks!

 

Not for sure actually. Id pull the front hub off and look at the bearings for sure. First thing Id do. Isnt tire rubbing anything is it?

 

I'll check that out. The tires should be all clear of everything, they are just 31x1050 on stock wheels. Will checking the bearings be something I can do in a parking lot without special tools? Will I need to take my rotor off to do that?

 

Jack truck up on that side, grab wheel at 9 and 3 and pull back and forth. If it seems to have play bearings arent tight in there or are bad.

 

I don't know out the sound but your speedometer cable is sticky and could use some lube.

 

I jacked it up, but when I pulled on the tire, it moved the whole vehicle, it was hard to tell if there was play there or not. If there was play there, it is a small amount and I don't know how I'd tell, maybe if I figure out a way to get it off all the tires or something?

 

I don't think it could be engine related due to the noise stays the same when the rpm's change. I would be looking at front end issues of some sort....