driveline issues

[chunderlicious]

i have a grinding/vibration sort of noise coming from somewhere in my 2008 landcruiser VDJ79. vague i know but here is what i can tell;

seems like a rolling type noise (on and off fairly regularly, but not constant)
not dependent on accel/ decel
not effected by brakes
changed both diff fluids and nothing out of the normal except some medium sized chips in the rear (toyota lsds dont like 80/90 oil)
there is no abnormal heat in the diff housing or any of the 4 hubs
has 7000km old bearings in the rear hubs when i fitted a 100s rear diff
no wheel wobbles
clutch, although worn out, doesnt seem to be related
throwout doesnt seem related
not engine related
doesnt seem road condition related
3 nights ago, i was going along the road at 120ish and went round a fairly gentle bend and i got a speal noise and the car went straight ahead for a second or 2

would like to fix the problem asap of course but dont have the time to go to a mechanic (even though i dont know any within 45 mins of where i live/work) i work 630-630

thanks for any suggestions.

[DamTriton]

Two possibilities

Stone/mud in the front brake caliper causing the initial momentary seize (hesitation to turn) you had then continuing as a minor drag with each wheel revolution.

Bearing failure in the front, similar symptoms but caused by metal shards breaking off then roughening up the ball race surface.

A giveaway as to which side the issue is, will be which way the initial tug on the wheel was. Another clue will be if the noise is a 1:1 ratio with the wheel rotation (brakes), or about 2-3 wheel revs per scrape (bearings)

[chunderlicious]

front left bearing failure was my thought, although i dread having to pull it all apart, and i dont even know how to get parts where im living, might have to order them through work. the noise itself is in ways random, it isnt 1:1 more random and goes away sometimes, that is what has me stumped and at 100 it is gone completely.
also cant hear it from outside the vehicle (windows down) just inside it is a low grind noise

[chunderlicious]

was front left bearing... took 3 hours to remove and had to use a 10t enerpac to get it off after heating the bearing race (the only solid piece left) there was cage all through everything, spindle is completely farked on the outer bearing surface, the spindle thread is stuffed, the retainer nuts are stuffed, the washer is also completely stuffed....... yay for me right now

so i savaged it back together tonight with just a new set of bearings and ill order a new spindle and ancillaries tomorrow to put it back together properly, then ill check the right hand hub and both rears. while im at work ill do the front diff fluid aswell and hope and pray i havent had water in the front diff for the last 2 months.