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Mechanical Noise

358 Views 13 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Nev
Hi everyone,

I have an ST500 that I've owned from new and is just coming up to its 50,000 mile service.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have noticed a mechanical low frequency noise coming from the front wheel area of the car but only between 60 and 80 mph. Brand new Contis on the front and balanced nicely. It's definitely wheel related I think as when you knock it out of gear the noise is still apparent. It's really difficult to describe but I've a feeling it may be wheel bearing related.

It doesn't make any difference whether you are in a straight line or going round a corner and I suppose the best description I can give is that it's like being on a rough bit of motorway surface all the time.

Any ideas peeps?

Nev
ST500
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Is the noise like a droning noise? Noise gets worse the faster you go? It sounds like a wheel bearing. Best to get it checked before it gets worse.
As above, it's possible with the mileage. The noise should get slightly worse when you turn the opposite way to the offending wheel.
I agree sounds like a wheel bearing! Dont forget it prob worth changing both if u can as they both done same amount of work!! mine went at 50k on my old car, was surprising how quik the other wheel went after changing the first!!

Good Luck!!
QUOTE(goonturbo @ 4 Dec 2009, 09:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Is the noise like a droning noise? Noise gets worse the faster you go? It sounds like a wheel bearing. Best to get it checked before it gets worse.

Yep, that's exactly the noise. Excellent description.

It's being serviced on Friday of next week, so I'll ask the boys at Thame Ford to take a look. Any ideas how much I should be looking at to replace both wheel bearings?

Cheers,

Nev
As a general rule, its approx 1.0 to 1.5 hours to replace each front wheel bearing on a car,

Wheel bearings vary greatly in price, I have seen me getting a bearing for a saxo for under £20 and a bearing for a civic being
over £200.

I would GUESSTIMATE a bearing to cost approx £50 -£60 per side for a front one.

Then you will obviously have the dreaded V.A.T. man to pay.
QUOTE(goonturbo @ 5 Dec 2009, 08:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>As a general rule, its approx 1.0 to 1.5 hours to replace each front wheel bearing on a car,

Wheel bearings vary greatly in price, I have seen me getting a bearing for a saxo for under £20 and a bearing for a civic being
over £200.

I would GUESSTIMATE a bearing to cost approx £50 -£60 per side for a front one.

Then you will obviously have the dreaded V.A.T. man to pay.

And as of January the dreaded VAT man is going to start recharging 17.5%. They are keeping it fairly quiet at the moment.
A quick update.

It turned out that I had an out of shape rear tyre which had worn badly on the inside and had set up a low frequency droning noise throughout the whole, which the guys at Thame Ford also said sounded like a front wheel bearing. For the life of me, it sounded as though it was coming from the front of the car. I suppose the giveaway was that when you steered left or right at any kind of speed, the droning sound didn't get any worse. They did check both front wheel bearings and thet were both fine.

Replaced the tyre this morning and all is well.

Nev
(ST500)
QUOTE(Nev @ 12 Dec 2009, 10:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>A quick update.

It turned out that I had an out of shape rear tyre which had worn badly on the inside and had set up a low frequency droning noise throughout the whole, which the guys at Thame Ford also said sounded like a front wheel bearing. For the life of me, it sounded as though it was coming from the front of the car. I suppose the giveaway was that when you steered left or right at any kind of speed, the droning sound didn't get any worse. They did check both front wheel bearings and thet were both fine.

Replaced the tyre this morning and all is well.

Nev
(ST500)

This was a well known CTR (EP3) trait as there was a bit of an issue with rear camber on some cars.
I had the dealer replace wheel bearings under warranty and it made no difference to the noise.
New camber arms and replacement tyres at the rear did the trick.
QUOTE(Alb @ 12 Dec 2009, 11:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>This was a well known CTR (EP3) trait as there was a bit of an issue with rear camber on some cars.
I had the dealer replace wheel bearings under warranty and it made no difference to the noise.
New camber arms and replacement tyres at the rear did the trick.

That's useful info, thanks Alb.

Do you think I should get the camber arms changed under warranty? I must say that I am experiencing a lot more rear tyre wear compared to the ST220 that I had before. Is that a recall item or a known fault at Ford?

Cheers,

Nev
ST500
2
QUOTE(Nev @ 12 Dec 2009, 02:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>That's useful info, thanks Alb.

Do you think I should get the camber arms changed under warranty? I must say that I am experiencing a lot more rear tyre wear compared to the ST220 that I had before. Is that a recall item or a known fault at Ford?

Cheers,

Nev
ST500

CTR(EP3) is a Honda Civic Type-R EP3 model lol!
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QUOTE(fishface31a @ 12 Dec 2009, 02:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
CTR(EP3) is a Honda Civic Type-R EP3 model lol!


I know. What a wally!

Nev
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QUOTE(Alb @ 12 Dec 2009, 11:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>This was a well known CTR (EP3) trait as there was a bit of an issue with rear camber on some cars.
I had the dealer replace wheel bearings under warranty and it made no difference to the noise.
New camber arms and replacement tyres at the rear did the trick.

I made Honda replace TWO sets of rear tyres because of this!

Anyways strangely my 07 plate with 20k on the clock has started making a droning wheel related noise at motorway speeds, Ive got the original Conti's on the back which are just legal, at speed I get a hum with a mega fast thumping like noise although its not loud, could this be an out of shape tyre?

Nick
QUOTE(morty1970 @ 13 Dec 2009, 08:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I made Honda replace TWO sets of rear tyres because of this!
Anyways strangely my 07 plate with 20k on the clock has started making a droning wheel related noise at motorway speeds, Ive got the original Conti's on the back which are just legal, at speed I get a hum with a mega fast thumping like noise although its not loud, could this be an out of shape tyre?

Nick

Yep, that's an identical sound to mine. My rear tyres were both replaced at the same time in February of this year and the offside had worn 3-3-4 but the nearside had worn 3-3-1 with the inside being very worn indeed. I also had a major rear end shunt straight after these tyres were replaced and I wonder if that had been a contribution in some way.

My noise happened from 55mph to 80mph and was most prominent around 75mph. Mine were Conti's as well, although not the originals.

HTH

Nev
ST500
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