Humming tune from rear NOT tyres!

[RichardSEL]

Mate, I have exactly the same issue with my golf 1.6 TDI. Been chasing it for a year now. Had it checked by Indy garage and rotated tyres, no better. Trying to find a garage with an electronic chassis ear that would allow us to pinpoint the exact source of the noise, but have so far no located one

When I had noise sounding like wheel bearing had a four wheel laser alighnment done, and it went.
Also noticed that when I upped the tyre pressures from standard by about 5 psi, then the noise came in (and out)
at a different speed

[Gaz_burns]

When I had noise sounding like wheel bearing had a four wheel laser alighnment done, and it went.
Also noticed that when I upped the tyre pressures from standard by about 5 psi, then the noise came in (and out)
at a different speed

Well I was considering that. It came Supplied with the Hankook Ventus (something or other) and the front two had unusual wear. Had it to an Indy for Servicing who noticed this but checked the alignment on the front two wheels and it was spot on. Have rotated the tyres and the noise is still prevalent, if not even louder, and Im sure still from the rear, but no so much from the right hand side of the car. Problem is the noise oscillates so you can never be sure where its coming from, but you can hear it at speads as low as 15-20mph.

the only time it completely goes is on the motorway if you go from normal asphalt to smooth freshly laid asphalt. This is pretty rare. As soon as you are off the motorway and driving slow speeds its pretty much there all the times. Sounds like the vibration of the tyres on the road beings transferred to the springs.

[RichardSEL]

I've got 16" P6000 all round and have just done front to backs on this estate.
Now the rumble comes in at about 15 and goes again at about 25mph. Before
it was 30 and gone at 40. That was more annoying.

Used a Hunter-equipped outfit at Rainham. Static tracking just won't cut it
In this dry weather try upping the psi. And if no change then the laser track?

Should've added that I've only got about 3-4mm tread left on these P6000s so
due MOT in Nov and will change then

Let us know how you get on? Good luck!

[patomlin76]

Well I was considering that. It came Supplied with the Hankook Ventus (something or other) and the front two had unusual wear. Had it to an Indy for Servicing who noticed this but checked the alignment on the front two wheels and it was spot on. Have rotated the tyres and the noise is still prevalent, if not even louder, and Im sure still from the rear, but no so much from the right hand side of the car. Problem is the noise oscillates so you can never be sure where its coming from, but you can hear it at speads as low as 15-20mph.

the only time it completely goes is on the motorway if you go from normal asphalt to smooth freshly laid asphalt. This is pretty rare. As soon as you are off the motorway and driving slow speeds its pretty much there all the times. Sounds like the vibration of the tyres on the road beings transferred to the springs.

Gaz

You have completely described my situation too, and even more puzzling is that when it was look at by a garage who drove it with three mechanics, they said that when they were in the back they couldnt fathom where it was coming from - so to me it sounds like general tyre noise that I hear in other cars, only 20 times worse!!!! The din is ear-splitting on rough roads even at 20mph.

I'm very interested in RichardSEL suggestion that the hunter alignment sorted it out. I do know that places with hunter machines will test your machine and give you a read-out for free, then only charge when making the adjustments. It may be worth looking into this as I have been told it is not bearings as a) it is not a typical bearing sound, and b) changes depending on road surface – but is always there, just at different volumes.

Gaz can you confirm this is exactly what you're experiencing too. Maybe there's a solution around the corner, but I thought that two months ago! I know it's not wind-noise as that wouldn't changing dependent on surface. I'm also happy I'm not the only one as I was led to believe by many garages that this sound was perfectly normal (!!!!!???!)

[zollaf]

just had a customers car in with a similar noise, its an 04 a4 1.9tdi. traced that to a front wheeel bearing. when you spin the wheel its not noisy, until you spin the other (new bearing in that 4 months ago). its just slightly noisy but the other side is silent. bearings can be a pain to detect and be sure about, but if its not a tyre or bearing, theres not much else it can be.

[RichardSEL]

Sheesh! Just realised these P6000 have done 27,000m Don't think that invalidates my previous advice though: 3-4mm on each left,
although NSF is a bit rounded, down to 2mm outer edge (now on NSR)

[patomlin76]

just had a customers car in with a similar noise, its an 04 a4 1.9tdi. traced that to a front wheeel bearing. when you spin the wheel its not noisy, until you spin the other (new bearing in that 4 months ago). its just slightly noisy but the other side is silent. bearings can be a pain to detect and be sure about, but if its not a tyre or bearing, theres not much else it can be.

Thanks Zollaf...

Thought I'd add that yesterday I did a very basic test on my own - iphone video set in the car, and I jacked up and spun as fast as I could (aided by tube in spokes) the wheels of each corner. Playing the videos back, the tell-tale hum *seemed* to appear only when spinning the front offside wheel.

Is it possible that this sound could travel to make it appear more central in the cabin? It would explain why no sound out of the ordinary can be heard from the rear seats...

Finally, what's the best way to test this properly - front wheels on a rolling road (for load bearing weight) or jacked up and driven in gear?

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zollaf]

i have known rear bearings sound like fronts, fronts sound like rears and other noises go all over the place. think of a car as a large steel box, very good at sound resonance. now, if a bearing is slightly noises when spun by hand you can bet your life its really noisy on the go. just done one on an a4, not really noisy but noisier than the new one the other side.

[DSG4ME]

In that case start looking at CVJ's Pat,

The inboard kerbside one is one that splits it's boot easy.

[RichardSEL]

Is that because the circlip's done up too tight?
Had my NSF boot go, it was a clean cut right by the outerside of the circlip

That was two year's ago, some numpty replaced it with a universal boot coz he
didn't know how to (was nervous of) dropping driveshaft and could'nt get proper
boot over knuckle.
A few weeks later had MOT and it'd perforated. Just an advisory.
One year later had it changed for a proper part, done properly, and had MOT, all OK

Just had this year's MOT and still fine, installer (Volks Autos) used a rounded
edge circlip = Proper job