Oscillating humming at around 50mph

[SharpyClio]

Possibly and odd one.

I am not sure if its new or if I have just started noticing it, but at around 50mph I get an oscillating humming noise, sounds like its coming from the front end.

When I put the clutch it and coast its still there, I think it could be wheel bearing (which would be timely as I have 2 new ones to go in with me powder coated front end) but I wondered if anyone else had experienced something similar and what it turned out to be (im hoping my gearbox isn't about to sh*t itself everywhere )

TIA
Rich

 

[Louis]

Does it sound like this

Box/clutch issue?

2 days ago this noise just started out of the blue. Has gotten worse today on the drive to work so my first thoughts of it being something catching has gone out the window. The noise is there very quietly on throttle, very loud off throttle, and quiet again with clutch depressed but you can...

cliosport.net

 

[SharpyClio]

Does it sound like this

Box/clutch issue?

2 days ago this noise just started out of the blue. Has gotten worse today on the drive to work so my first thoughts of it being something catching has gone out the window. The noise is there very quietly on throttle, very loud off throttle, and quiet again with clutch depressed but you can...

cliosport.net

Thankfully not! That sounds horrible!!

Its more subtle, its almost like an electrical sound, but im pretty sure its mechanical. I am going to try and record it later today.

Initially I thought bearing but it doesn't really seem to match wheel speed in the oscillation rate.

 

[hopgop1]

Is it any different at say 70mph and you put the clutch in compared to 50?

 

[adamlstr]

Check the inner edge of your tyres too, an undulating tread wear can also give a noise similar to wheel bearing.

 

[SharpyClio]

Is it any different at say 70mph and you put the clutch in compared to 50?

It goes away a bit the faster you go, or is less noticeable, i've not put the clutch in at higher speeds.

Check the inner edge of your tyres too, an undulating tread wear can also give a noise similar to wheel bearing.

Thanks. I will go out and check.

 

[hopgop1]

It goes away a bit the faster you go, or is less noticeable, i've not put the clutch in at higher speeds.


Thanks. I will go out and check.

My hunch was diff bearing, but I would've expected that to get more noticeable at higher wheel speeds.

 

[SharpyClio]

My hunch was diff bearing, but I would've expected that to get more noticeable at higher wheel speeds.

So at higher speeds it seems to pretty much go away.

I drove to 70 and i struggled to really notice it. Then I put the clutch in and coasted to 40 and it became really noticeable around 50 again, that’s defo where it’s at it’s worst.

I got a video but it’s really hard to make it out over the engine noise.

I’m going to check the stuff I can get to easily and go from there I guess.

 

[Sir Nancy Flowers]

Drive everywhere at 70?



(Sorry, thats all I got)

 

[SharpyClio]

Drive everywhere at 70?



(Sorry, thats all I got)

Tempting.

 

[Gavin.]

I have similar on my Meg 250 after wacking it up a curb trying to avoid some bellend doing a u-turn with me in his way last year. I’ve had the wheel bearing and intermediate shaft bearing replaced and it’s still there, most noticeable at 70 but starting to hear it as low as 40 now. Noise stays while in neutral at speed, has to be the Gearbox input bearing/diff bearings.

 

[SharpyClio]

I have similar on my Meg 250 after wacking it up a curb trying to avoid some bellend doing a u-turn with me in his way last year. I’ve had the wheel bearing and intermediate shaft bearing replaced and it’s still there, most noticeable at 70 but starting to hear it as low as 40 now. Noise stays while in neutral at speed, has to be the Gearbox input bearing/diff bearings.

Is there any way of testing it? Guess it’s going to be soon time to whip the box off. 😫

 

[Gavin.]

Doubtful, if everything else has been ruled out it’s the likely culprit. I’m due a clutch anyway so will just bundle it in with the job.
Annoying though!

 

[Sash]

Does it change when cornering?

 

[SharpyClio]

Does it change when cornering?

yes, it does. If anything becomes more pronounced.

 

[Sash]

Does it get worse one direction or the other?

sounds like a wheel bearing to me.

 

[SharpyClio]

Does it get worse one direction or the other?

sounds like a wheel bearing to me.

Turning right seems worse
.

 

[SharpyClio]

As I’ve got new wheel bearings to go on I’ll start there anyway.

 

[Gavin.]

As I’ve got new wheel bearings to go on I’ll start there anyway.

Definitely the place to start, lot cheaper than any gearbox problem.

 

[SharpyClio]

Definitely the place to start, lot cheaper than any gearbox problem.

Indeed. Bloody cars. 🤣

 

[Mr Underhill]

So at higher speeds it seems to pretty much go away.

I drove to 70 and i struggled to really notice it. Then I put the clutch in and coasted to 40 and it became really noticeable around 50 again, that’s defo where it’s at it’s worst.

I got a video but it’s really hard to make it out over the engine noise.

I’m going to check the stuff I can get to easily and go from there I guess.

Are you sure it’s not wheel bearings? I never noticed mine at high speeds, but as I approached roundabouts it became more obvious. I had little to no play in mine but they we’re just rusty and dry.

Plus I’d do them as a matter of course, especially as you’re going to track it.

 

[SharpyClio]

Are you sure it’s not wheel bearings? I never noticed mine at high speeds, but as I approached roundabouts it became more obvious. I had little to no play in mine but they were just rusty and dry.

At the moment I have no real idea. My first sense was wheel bearings. The rears are new(ish) so figured probably fronts. The front hubs are in for powder coating so, I figure I’ll start there when I ch she the front end and see if that helps.

 

[SharpyClio]

Not 100% confirmed but I’ve just taken the front left hub off and the bearing is dead, can barely move it by hand and when it does move its more indexing than rotating smoothly 😬

 

[dann2707]

Not 100% confirmed but I’ve just taken the front left hub off and the bearing is dead, can barely move it by hand and when it does move its more indexing than rotating smoothly 😬

Sounds like you've confirmed it mate haha

Good find it's always nice to find something like that where its properly fucked!

 

[SharpyClio]

Just taken the right one off, that’s not much better tbh. So reasonably confident I have the problem now.

 

[Martin_172]

Louder when turning right will be the left hand bearing as they get noisier when you load them up when they are starting to fail

 

[SharpyClio]

Just to see this thread to a full close. I have driven the car today and confirm that the noise has gone now the wheel bearings have been replaced. So a confirmed diagnosis and fix.