If it happens with the wheels in the air, I would think that it is either the drive axle or the bearing. You say that you had the brakes off, so it wasn't the brakes/rotors.

How did the boots look. Were they cracked or seeping fluid?

sounds like a bad CV boot to me. I heard this constant whine-whine-whine-whine when i drove adn it got so much worse based on when i turned the wheel to the left. Anyway my problem was that my driver'* side CV boot had a tear in it and when ever it spun a certain way the torn area would expand a bit letting more air (and a little grease of course) out at each revolution making the small whine-whine- noise. I didn't feell like buying a whole new boot ( i know i know.. but i'm poor) so I just got some of my red permatex RTV sealer and globbed a generous amount on there and let it cure a bit and the sound was gone. Been good for about a month or 2. so to test, jack it up and move wheels to position where noise comes out of them. put in neutral and spin both.. side where you hear noise from = possible broken cv boot, examine boot as you spin. That'* what i did, hope it helps.

mike diaz

If you KNOW it'* a bearing, and can't determine which, it doesn't matter. You should replace them in pairs. Same rule as brakes.