I have a 2001 Honda Rubicon. I ride it in the water some and it has a high pitched whine that sounds like it is coming from the left wheel. I have taken the tire off, wheel off and put in a new seal and cleaned it. It is very dirty inside. When I clean it, it seems to help for a short time but the high pitched noise returns. It only makes this noise when I am moving and it is not affected in any way when I apply brake pressure. Has anyone else experienced this? What have you done to fix it? I expect it is the Rim rubbing against the housing, but I'm not sure.

 

It sounds like there is a rock inside the drum or a piece of the brake hardware inside the drum is rubbing on the drum. Pull the drum off and look for a shiny wear mark on the drum or on any of the linkage or hardware insde the drum. Check the shoes for rocks imbedded in or around them. Also check for shiny spots on the backing plate to see if it has been rubbing somewhere. I don't know what else it could be except maybe a CV joint but I doubt that it is making the squeeling sound.

 

Did you put grease on the seal that rides against the backing plate? Maybe a wheel bearing.

 

Wheel Bearing going south...