Horrible Road Noise

[sschambers]

I started having this problem even before I installed the KYB GR2's w/ Eibach ProKit and ALL of the Energy Suspension bushings. The road noise is so bad, the radio won't even drown it out. (Not too concerned about it at the moment though because the motor is at the machine shop). But the entire suspension is all new, except the wheel bearings - but NONE of them have any play whatsoever. I checked each wheel bearing at least three times.
I'm on stock wheels with directional Wanli 205/55/16 tires, and the tires are fairly new and the wheels were balanced. The road noise is somewhat bad around 25mph, then goes away until around 50-55mph and that's when it's the absolute loudest.
I don't know as much about suspension as I do with motor work, but I have a decent amount of knowledge. Could a wheel bearing still be bad even though none of them have any play?

Thanks for any help.

Steve

 

[Dsmj89]

What does the noise sound like ?

 

[sschambers]

It honestly sounds like a wheel bearing is shot. I've had one blow before, and it sounds very similar. But like I said, the bearings all checked out fine. It's like a loud, obnoxious humming.

 

[Dsmj89]

That's exactly what i was going to ask you if it sounded like an annoying humming. Well i would check really good on all wheels if the bearings truly are good. I am strongly certain it's a bad or about to go bad wheel bearing.

 

[sschambers]

Ok, thanks for the input...What I'll probably do is wait till after I get the motor back and save up a little for all new bearings all around. The front left should still be under warranty from Auto Zone, so I only have to buy 3 of them...Might as well I guess since I can't really pin point which one it is.

 

[Dsmj89]

I don't want to say it's worth a shot, bu i am almost certain 100% that is the problem, i experienced the same situation on my aunt's previous 92 eclipse gs and it was the wheel bearing. The car would start making the humming around 15+ mph and gradually sound like a whurring at high speeds.
Hope you get it fixed.

 

[rich3389]

I also have Wanli tires, it might just be your tires because my Wanli's are the loudest tires I have ever heard, they have to make as much noise as swamper tires.

 

[matthewdesigns]

Swap wheels/tires with a friend who does not have the same tire, and see if the noise goes away. If it does, then ditch the Wanli's for something quiet...but do lot's of burnouts first

 

[sschambers]

I know this thread is a couple months old but I created it and wasn't going to make a new one...

Since I've gotten my car back on the road, ALL of my wheel bearings are brand new.

Here's a list, suspension/brake wise... (and it's made the humming noise even before I lowered the car).

Eibach Pro-Kit
KYB GR2's
Energy Suspension bushings (all around)
NEW strut mounts
2 NEW half-shafts
4 NEW wheel bearings
2 NEW front lower control arms
2 NEW front lower wishbone arms
2 NEW front tie-rod ends
All rotors were turned with NEW brakes all around
2 NEW e-brake cables (had 1 snap)
NEW e-brake shoes


....And I'm still getting the slight vibration/obnoxious humming road noise.

It starts at a lower speed, gets louder until around 55 or 60, then it calms down a bit.

I'm still using the Wanli tires on stock wheels (205/55/16). Front tires are still fairly new since my car was off the road for so long. The rears are about a year old.

The noise sounds like it's coming from the rear.

The one and last thing I can think of is - the tires. But when I got these tires it never made the noise until a few months later....
Like someone previously posted, the Wanli's are loud tires....But holy f***, IF it is my tires making this noise, they need to stop making Wanli's because it's so bad it drowns out my stereo system when it's cranked.

Anyone else have anymore input?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[matthewdesigns]

Tires can change in character in just a few hundred miles...read some reviews on Tirerack.com and you'll see people complaining of that very thing.

The easiest thing to do really is to swap wheels/tires with someone else and see what happens. You'll know if your tires are the culprit in half an hour.