Slight drone/low-pitched whine noise at speed.

[Darren S]

Sorry for the vagueness on this guys, but I've only noticed it this week.

Heading home on the motorway, I could hear a very subtle droning noise in the background - distinct enough to be heard over the iPod but not really loud, if that makes sense?! Switched the tunes off and listened a bit more - it's there between 70mph and around 80mph - either side of that and I can't really hear it.

It almost sounds that tyre drone noise that you get at speed on certain types of tarmac. The car doesn't feel different in anyway, doesn't pull to one side or make any other action that appears unusual. Oh, and all four tyres have plenty of tread left.

If I had to pinpoint the noise - I'd say it was the passenger foot-well area, but that's just guessing. I've had various thoughts from driveshafts, to CV joints to the gearbox itself? Would anyone like to suggest a culprit?

Cheers,
D.

 

[Craig.H]

possible wheel bearing?

 

[couzens]

sounds like wheel bearing

 

[Triki]

Wheel bearing.

Take it out round some bends and roundabouts, and see if the noise goes as you load the car up from side to side, going through the corners. If right hand corners make it quite, and left hand corners make it louder, then wheel bearing on the N/S.

 

[jinjur]

Would the rear bearings be a weak link on this car?

I have never had to change a bearing on a car in my puff....the last car i had for 10 years yet my 172 sounds like BOTH rears are gone

Jj

 

[Tunst]

Its this ^

 

[Darren S]

Cheers guys. I'll take it for some Roundabout Therapy tomorrow....

D.

 

[p@blo]

Lol, i had thiscon the 1.6. Few roundabouts shoul help suss out which side has gone.

 

[Darren S]

Any rough ideas of the cost of replacements, guys? Is it worth getting both done at the same time or just replacing the side that's fecked?

Cheers,
D.

 

[Darren S]

Bugger - well that didn't prove anything to me.

Went up to the bypass near Rochdale (the one that starts at the M62 and finishes at Gordon Riggs Garden Centre) - with three nice straights in it, split up by three roundabouts. Gave the 'ol girl some beans and got her tri-podding with the Dunlops up front squealing - but nothing really stood out noise wise in loading that NSF wheel up. Tried heavy braking in a straight line, depressing the clutch and coasting, quick changes of direction, etc - but nothing made the noise 'appear'. I purposely went back onto the M62 as the sliproad joins with a looooong sweeping left-hander - just to load up the OSF wheel - still no difference.

Then cruising back on the M62 at a steady 70ish, the noise was definitely there. I guess I'm just going to have to wait and see if the noise gets any worse? The only upside from all this is that I very rarely give my car death - and it felt brilliant after I did so.

D.

 

[SBV116]

Generally it will be a rear dude!! Not 100% but 9 times out of 10 it is!!

 

[Tony Hunter]

Loose wheel arch liner,worth checking.

 

[Curtis!]

I knew mine was nackered after it was like a howling dog driving slowly round a car park after some roundabouts. >_<

 

[jinjur]

Bugger - well that didn't prove anything to me.

Went up to the bypass near Rochdale (the one that starts at the M62 and finishes at Gordon Riggs Garden Centre) - with three nice straights in it, split up by three roundabouts. Gave the 'ol girl some beans and got her tri-podding with the Dunlops up front squealing - but nothing really stood out noise wise in loading that NSF wheel up. Tried heavy braking in a straight line, depressing the clutch and coasting, quick changes of direction, etc - but nothing made the noise 'appear'. I purposely went back onto the M62 as the sliproad joins with a looooong sweeping left-hander - just to load up the OSF wheel - still no difference.

Then cruising back on the M62 at a steady 70ish, the noise was definitely there. I guess I'm just going to have to wait and see if the noise gets any worse? The only upside from all this is that I very rarely give my car death - and it felt brilliant after I did so.

D.

Could be both chap like mine.... ??

Just a thought.

Jj

 

[Darren S]

Generally it will be a rear dude!! Not 100% but 9 times out of 10 it is!!

Wish you were a bit closer m8 so that you could have a drive yourself!

Loose wheel arch liner,worth checking.

Ah. Now thinking about it, the near-side rear arch liner has never properly lined up. I can push it back so that it 'clips in' on the rear bumper but it only take the slightest knock to pop it back out again. When popped out, the edge of the liner can literally be half an inch (tops) away from the inside tread of the tyre. I think I'll check that again - cheers Tony.

D.

 

[Darren S]

Right - a bit more closer inspection today. I had each corner jacked up in turn and all four wheels rotated smoothly and without noise or resistance. No movement on the 'hub' of any wheel either.

Interestingly, the OSF front, which in my mind is the main culprit - has a very thin band of excessive tyre wear on the extreme outer edge - certainly no more than 3mm of freshly worn rubber. To me, that would indicate that the driver's front has something making it do negative camber - am I right in saying?

Are there any other indicators that could point to the wheel bearing being the issue? I might just buy one anyway, but I do want to throw money at something that could be ok?

Cheers,
D.

 

[Darren S]

Generally it will be a rear dude!! Not 100% but 9 times out of 10 it is!!

You sir, were indeed correct!

Replaced all four discs today and with the rear replacements already including new bearings, the nosie has now disappeared.

Oh, and she stops a fair bit better too - the front discs were totally shot!

D.

 

[SBV116]

ta da! ha ha, All good, i hope you looked after it..... working on your own car like. he he he!