Kendo11 Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 Hi guys, Recently when driving the car over about 40mph plus I've been getting a weird noise and a bit of feedback from I think the drivers side rear. It's like a dull repetitive rotational sound if that makes sense? Had alignment laser checked today which was spot on, plenty of air, no uneven wear, nuts tight enough etc. Had it up on ramps and underneath looks OK. Any ideas before I try to get it on a rolling road? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 When the car was on the ramp did you check all the wheels were turning freely? It could be a stuck brake caliper, especially if they are the smaller slide calipers. A simple initial check, go for a drive then check the temperature of the wheels, if a caliper is stuck that wheel will be hotter than the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 Could be a wheel bearing, get the back end jacked up, handbrake off and give the wheel a tug up/down, side/side feeling for any play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 Have you lost any weights from that wheel? If it's become unbalanced, that may cause it. Simple things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo11 Posted November 3, 2013 Author Share Posted November 3, 2013 No weights seem to be missing and there wasn't any abnormal play when it was jacked up today. The brakes are sticking a little but surely that would be audible at all speeds? I'll check brake temps tomorrow morning after a drive to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 I've had several wheel bearings go bad in other vehicles and not a one of them has had any play at all, it's just the whining/groaning noise that changes according to road speed that gives it away. I think with modern materials and tolerances, the act of checking for bearing play is redundant at best and misleading at worst. My Mondeo's rear bearing felt like a pepper grinder at the end, it was that bad, and still had zero play in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Roger NE Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 My Mondeo's rear bearing felt like a pepper grinder at the end, it was that bad, and still had zero play in it That's interesting to note . . . my daughter's Fiesta has noise that sounds like front wheel bearings are shot . . . but as there's no play I presumed they must be OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 I use noise these days. You'll start to hear it at higher speeds and it'll get higher pitched the faster you go. As the bearing gets worse, you'll hear it come in at slower and slower speeds. You can also change the noise by steering left and right - if you steer left, say, and the noise gets louder, it's a right hand bearing that's shot. You increase the load on it, it gets louder. Conversely if you then steer right the noise will fade away as you take the weight off it. One trick I've dug up but haven't yet tried is to jack the car up and hold the suspension spring in one hand while rotating the wheel with the other. Apparently you feel the graunchiness of the bearing through the spring. Give that a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo11 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Weirdly though it's the opposite sort of noise to a wheel bearing, it's very low, dull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraP-Z Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 I just had my passenger side front wheel bearing replaced on my daily driver (fiesta) same symptoms, no play in the wheel, just a low grinding noise almost like a washing machine drum turning round and round, but a bit lower and dronier, had it for months and months before i changed it...ill never forget that noise. Was so embarassing to drive, sounded like a brake caliper stuck at all times too btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo11 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Sounds similar to mine actually. You're probably all right it may well be a bearing. I know the brakes are a tad sticky too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 There isn't much going on with a wheel so it's pretty easy. Either the brake pads on the disc, something else on the disc (unlikely), or the bearing. Try the holding-the-spring trick and let us know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo11 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Will do thanks mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 When you bring it to me Ill have a look mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo11 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Sounds good mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Is it defo the on the wheel? We have got a semi rotational noise on ours but it only happens after about half a mile. We are taking the diff apart to see if it is coming from there. Defo not wheel or brake related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo11 Posted November 5, 2013 Author Share Posted November 5, 2013 I really hope it's not the diff. It drives OK for any length of time with no funny sounds at all, it only tends to happen over 50mph or so on a very hard drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 I really hope it's not the diff. It drives OK for any length of time with no funny sounds at all, it only tends to happen over 50mph or so on a very hard drive Doesn't sound like yours is the diff. Ours sounds like something is catching/grinding every half a turn of the wheel. It goes away when you accelerate but returns when you free wheel or come off the accelerator to brake at a junction etc. Good luck though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 I really hope it's not the diff. It drives OK for any length of time with no funny sounds at all, it only tends to happen over 50mph or so on a very hard drive Doesn't sound like yours is the diff. Ours sounds like something is catching/grinding every half a turn of the wheel. It goes away when you accelerate but returns when you free wheel or come off the accelerator to brake at a junction etc. Good luck though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Old tyres can make strange road noise too, normally when the car has been parked up for a while, is there anyone local that will let you try their wheels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo11 Posted November 5, 2013 Author Share Posted November 5, 2013 Used as a daily driver though mate so don't think it'd be that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.