Road speed related whinning noise!

[geofhole]

Ok I know there are alot of threads about strange noises especially the turbo 'death whine'. This is not as my Supra is a J-Spec NA Auto Aerotop. I have read all the threads and still think this warrants a new one. Firstly its not the wife whinning, she's not allowed in the Supra only young fit buff chicks, she has a Yaris and is well appy with it!

 

Here goes, I have a road speed NOT engine rpm related whinning noise starting at around 36/37 rpm and continues up to 100+mph. Its resonant/loudest at 70 to 80mph (nice!). Its present when decellerating. The car does not vibrate. The whine is present under normal acceleration although masked by engine/exhaust noise under heavy acceleration and particular rough road surfaces/tyre noise. Wheels are 18 inch AVS Model 5's, tyres are budget with good tread and are not suspected as tyre road noise changes on different road surfaces and is a different noise (low pitch rumble/whoosing sound) not the whine. I/others cannot tell if its from the front or back or which side unfortunately. Its not getting worse and is not temperature related. It does not get louder going round corners. My instinct tells me it sounds like a diff whine but please read on.

From my 35 years of driving and advice from several consulted parties 'its the diff mate' is the general opinion. So a replacement diff from a breakers (assured quiet from a known wrecked car, new gear oil fitted) was installed and nothing changed, still the same noise! Bugger. So several parties were consulted and 'its the rear wheel bearings mate' was the next conclusion, so new Toyota rear wheel bearings were installed. Still the same noise! Bugger. So several other parties were consulted and 'its the rear brake shoes mate' was the diagnosis, so these were removed and guess what, still the same noise! Several other parties were consulted and 'its yer rear disc's mate' was the reply. So new rear disc's and pads were installed, still the whinning noise remains! Guess what several other parties suggested? 'Its the rear diff mate'..... you can't trust one from a breakers!! So a re-con unit (shimmed and pre-loaded) was installed and the problem was sorted....... no the same whinning noise remains. I'm thinking about the front wheels bearings but these have been inspected and hand spun on the hubs and checkout all ok. Perhaps the centre prop bearing may be suspect? Not had the prop down yet.

Not sure about the half shafts/axels, didn't think they whinned only clunked when worn. Don't think its the fuel pump, car starts, drives and runs perfect, 28 mpg on a run and 21 round town.

 

Its not a wind noise as far as I can tell, defenately a bearing noise. Its not the stereo. Its not the air-con. Its not the exhaust as this was replaced with a stainless steel one and before the whine started which was about 6 months later. I don't think its the steering pump/rack as the noise is not present when the car is stationary and on full lock either side. I don't thinks its the fan coupling as its road speed related. The air intake is stock. The car is an Aerotop auto and the whine pitch does not change if I de-select the overdive eg the road speed stays the same the whine stays the same although the engine rpm has changed. The Supra's recorded mileage is 90kms but cannot be verified. The car has no engine or transmission mods, bar the 18 inch AVS alloys.

 

Would a rolling road track the noise down? If yes anyone got one in the south of England they can recommend?

 

Basically can anyone throw any light on my prob? Any help would be apprecieated. I've spent around £700 so far chasing this!

Edited December 31, 2009 by geofhole (see edit history)

[Terminator]

Given it is hard to tell where the noise is coming from, it may well be the centre prop bearing as any noise from it would come through the shell making it very hard to locate.

 

If you could get a passenger to use a long screwdriver with blade on the hand brake leaver the other against their ear, they may hear the sound get louder, if it is being transmitted through the shell.

 

Would it be possible to get a sound recording of the noise?

[Al Massey]

Are you positive its not your budget tyres?

 

The ones that was imported on my car used to make a whine noise untill i upgraded and havent had it since

 

And all the people you consulted and they said various things, didnt you think to get those things checked before shelling out a lot of money fixing things that are not broke?

 

sorry dont mean to have a go but it must of cost you a fair bit because of these people

[j1mb0b1]

Are you positive its not your budget tyres?

 

The ones that was imported on my car used to make a whine noise untill i upgraded and havent had it since

 

And all the people you consulted and they said various things, didnt you think to get those things checked before shelling out a lot of money fixing things that are not broke?

 

sorry dont mean to have a go but it must of cost you a fair bit because of these people

 

Good tyres whine also, I have Toyo R888's fitted and they whine like a bitch.

[Al Massey]

Good tyres whine also, I have Toyo R888's fitted and they whine like a bitch.

 

Well yeah, but i was just suggesting not to rule out his tyres since it is speed related

[SteveC]

Another vote for suspect tyres.

 

When I bought mine it sounded just like it had a diff or bearing problem. A new set of tyres and the noise completey went and was never heard again.

[InSvain]

i had a similar problem but that was just girl related and not tyres:D

[pistonbroke]

have you changed the G/box oil, and when doing so, check the magnetic plug end for filings?

[geofhole]

Thanks for all the replys I didn't think I was going to any. The tyres seems to get a few votes. My problem here is separating tyre road noise and (if it exists) on my car tyre whine. Tyre road noise increases and changes with different road surfaces the whine stays the same and only increases in pitch when the road speed increases. Surely the whine and tyre road noise would increase together as road speed increased if the tyres were at fault.

 

I will try the long screwdriver and probe the tunnel area, well my brother-in-law will. Not sure if I can record it let alone hearing it on play back.

 

In the first instance I/we were convinced it was a diff whine everything else checked ok. Disks were original with only slight wear on LH inside surface, disks were cheaper than tyres. As it seems to be in the rear the next choice was rear wheel bearings as it sounds like a bearing going.

 

Gearbox trasmission fluid is changed at the correct intervals with no signs of any wear in the autobox.

[Chris Wilson]

I'd take the front pads out, refit the wheels and spin them, see if ANY noise emanates from the front hub bearings. I agree, the centre prop bearing could be noisy, take the prop off and see if it feels rough. A prop repair place will swap a new one on in no time. It's not wind noise from the aerotop seals is it? Try taping them over.

[Dnk]

You could rule out the tyres if theres a nice friendly member near to you that could do a swap with theirs and do a quick run up the rd.

 

Center prop bearing is worth a look

[geofhole]

That's for all the replys. I have now sorted the problem by fitting a set of 97 Facelift wheels and part worn Yokohamas and the whining noise has gone. Tyres!

DON'T BUY CHEAP TYRES THEY ARE CRAP.