The brakes could only be the problem if the sound is coming from the rear, and you had the parking brake on, and the caliper is seized (or sticky). If a caliper seizes overnight with the PB on, releasing the PB handle releases the brake pads only on one side, the other is still gripping, even though you're not on the pedal. It can get bad enough that the wheel won't turn at all (my daughter's old MX-3) and flat-spot your tire, or just drag and burn (my old Escort GT
). The heat and/or stress can also make the caliper pop free within a short time (< 50 feet), making the problem go away temporarily. An idiot salesmen at a local used car lot tried to sell my daughter a car with BOTH back wheels locked up; he said "Oh yeah, all cars do that if you don't drive 'em for a day or two"
If the sound is from the front, then brakes move way down the list of suspects...like you say, could be CVU, or tie-rod ends, or a ball joint. Need a look to rule those out