I have a 2005 Supercrew 4X2 with 110,000 miles on it. Lately I've noticed at 30 mph and up if I steer to the left I get a growling noise from the left front. When I straighten up or steer right it goes away. I don't feel anything in the steering wheel or seat of the pants...just this growling noise during a left steer. Tires are about half wore out...I went ahead and rotated them to see if the growl moved. It didn't, stays in the left front. Does that sound like the bearings in the rotor are on the way out? It won't stop raining so I haven't had a chance to jack it up and see if I have I have play in that tire/wheel. I thumbed through my Haynes manual and it seems pretty straight forward to replace the rotor. New rotors/bearings, one time use nut, might as well do pads while I'm in there, torque nut to 275 ft. lbs. Am I on the right track? Any other way/suggestions to diagnose this growl? Is the R&R of the rotor as easy as it sounds? Tips or trick, things I should know that Haynes isn't telling. Appreciate your insight.

 

You might need a puller to get the old rotor with bearing off, I did on my '07. Oh, and the nut should be torqued to 296 ft/lbs, not 275.
The whole thing is really easy, hardest part was getting the nut broke free. I used a breaker bar with ¾" drive socket and cheater pipe.