Constant noise from one tire

[plymouthtalon]

OK, my car vibrates/shakes really badly on the highway anywhere above 70 mph, which I think means I need a tire balancing. But recently a noise started coming from my rt. front tire area that raises in pitch with the speed of the car. It's a quiet 'whirr' noise that I first hear as I crest 40 mph or so. At that speed it's about the same pitch as an idling engine. At highway speed it sounds like a stock exhaust revving to maybe 3k-3500 rpm. But it definitely is coming from the right-front wheel area and the pitch gets lower/quieter as I slow down.

I called a dealership a few weeks ago to check my VIN for the tcase recall. They said it was done, but a recall on the ball joints hadn't. So maybe that's related - I haven't had them replaced yet. BTW, the sound resembles a pebble or something stuck in the tire tread, but the tire's just about bald, so that's not it. Any help?

 

[ryanman]

Wheel bearings maybe?

 

[plymouthtalon]

Something else I just noticed about this - when I turn the wheel to the right like when the road curves slightly (wheel turns from 12 o'clock to 1 o'clock), the noise instantly goes away until the wheel goes back out of the turn. It's totally silent when the car slightly curves to the right. It's definitely a noise coming from the tire though. Anybody had this problem or know what it is?

 

[leet]

Wheel bearing or CV joint.

 

[Pring]

I have this exact problem right now... Even the symptom of when you turn the wheel to about 1 oclock.. Is your noise like a WA WA WA WA WA sound .. But very loud. And extremely. I just changed my wheel bearings over the new year. along with both CV shafts.... What other reasons could there be.. I also just replaced the outer tie rod ends ...

 

[Lilni]

if it changes when you turn the wheel a certain way and is a constang noise at higher speeds i would think it is a cv joint. if the cara vibrates and shakes its probably an out of balance tire(s), a tread separation in a tire causing a bump on the tread, or the tire is out of round. as a ruke of thumb, a bad tire in the front akes the steering wheel vibrate and a bad tire in the back makes the seats vibrate. the high pitch noise would be some sort of bearing though, having really out of round or out of balance tires could have messed your bearing up. jack your front end up, and grab your wheelsone at a time and shake them. if you feel any sort of play (any movement that isnt smooth) you might have a bad bearing. i would honestly take it to a shop somewhere, i know all of this from working at a shop and they really should be able to get a good idea of what is going on.

 

[Lilni]

hey wait a second, your from st. louis too. if your ever around webster groves i wouldnt have a problem getting your front end in the air and showing you how to check your car for worn out wheel bearings, cv joints and tie rod ends. its as easy as grabbing your tire and shaking it a certain way. pm me if your not afraid to learn something

 

[Tim Melton]

Tie rod end is shot

 

[Pring]

so you saying the tire noise is probably cause I'm out of alignment or my tires are out of balance.. I'll see if I can get my tires balanced becuase the car tracks pretty straight .. No abnormal tire movement while the car is in the air now that I've replaced both tie rod ends.. any other suggestions.. Also what is the def. of BAD TOE?? alot of people say it causes alot of road noise and tire wear could someone explain.

 

[Lilni]

your suspension will most likelybe out of alignment after the tie rods are replaced anyway so it would be a good idea to get an alignment. other than that, if the tires arent abnormally worn and youve replaced the wheel bearings, cv shafts, and tie rods, then im not sure what to tell you...

 

[heckles]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ wheel bearings, is the wa, wa, wa noise. as for turning and the noise stopping, thats one of your linkage points, ball joints and tire rods. also check to see if all the metal boot straps are on your cv axles.

 

[Jetrosr]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ wheel bearings, is the wa, wa, wa noise.

The reason the noise goes away when the wheel is turned slightly is that the load (weight of the car) is shifting off of the bad bearing. If you recently replaced it and now have the noise, you a)got a bad part or b) the axle nut was torqued incorrectly. In either case, the bearing needs replaced. The best way to diagnose which bearing it is is with the car on a lift, put it in gear and run it up to about 30-40mph. Then listen from underneath with a stethoscope. Don't forget you have 2 in the rear also.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

It's almost definately the wheel bearing. Usually it goes as follows: Veer left and it's quiet=bad left bearing, veer right and it's quiet=bad right bearing. The reason for that is as Jetrosr said;

"The reason the noise goes away when the wheel is turned slightly is that the load (weight of the car) is shifting off of the bad bearing."

It sounds to me like you have a bad bearing. Raise and support the the front of the car safely, and try to shake the front wheels. Chances are the right wheel bearing is so worn the whole wheel will appear loose. This could also be the cause of your vibration. The bad news is, this could have been caused by the vibration. Make sure and take this opportunity to check the rims for dents and the tires for shifted belts or cupping. Put the affected wheel on the side with the good bearing, and spin the wheel checking for any wobble or indentations along the inner and outer edges of the rims. A bent wheel will eat a wheel bearing in as little as 1500 miles on the interstate.

 

[eclipse500]

A good diagnosis at the shop I work at is to jack up the side in question with the bad bearing. Put your hand on the coil spring and spin the tire, you will generally "feel" the bad bearing because the roughness in the bearing will resonate through the coil spring. As for all of the shaking, you probably might be due for a rotate and balance. Check your tires for cupping and give your suspension a complete shake down to ensure there are no other worn front end parts.

 

[Pring]

ok so I just replace my W-Bearings last January. Also had the Tierod ends replaced. WE changed the CV shafts both sides when we did the wheelbearing job what else is there .. Is the CV joint seperate from the shafts ? Need info quick the weather is getting bad and the M3 doesn't wanna see the winter weather.

 

[Defiant]

You haven't gotten this sorted-out since JULY?

Time to pay a shop who knows what they're doing.

 

[tenn-gsx]

Stupid thought. Are your plastic fender liners rubbing on the tire?

 

[xreaction122]

its 99% the wheel bearing noise..its been happened to my gsx also.
i dont know if yours is going to pop out easily but i torched/air hammered/pb blasted for about 4 days straight and it still would not budge. we i disassembled the axle and just took the assembly with the hub and everything to a machine shop to get it pressed out...

good luck..its going to be fun.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Yeah, it's totally the wheel bearing. It isn't impossible to mess one up while pressing it in. It's happened to me before, and I'm frickin awesome at this $hit. Just change the bearing again, carefuly, and only press it in by the outer race, NOT the inner.

Sometimes it helps to put the seering knuckle in the oven, and the bearing in the freezer before you assemble them.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Yeah, it's totally the wheel bearing. It isn't impossible to mess one up while pressing it in. It's happened to me before, and I'm frickin awesome at this $hit. Just change the bearing again, carefuly, and only press it in by the outer race, NOT the inner.

Sometimes it helps to put the seering knuckle in the oven, and the bearing in the freezer before you assemble them.

Agreed. When I did my first wheel bearing. I messed it up and it pooped. I pressed it back out and ball bearings went every where. It was funny now that I think about it, because I tried to catch them as the bounced all over th shop floor. I think I pressed it in at an angel and it caused stress on the inner race. (not sure exactly, I wasn't paying attention which was my first real mistake). I bought a new one and pressed it in and that was it. The wheel stayed in place.

 

[Pring]

thats odd. When I replaced the Wheel bearing it came as an entire assembly.. I ended up cutting the old ones out with a torch that is the way to go my friends.. You guys all for sure thing it is a wheelbearing though huh ? SUpposedly the ones I had, have a lift time warranty I'll try taking them back.

 

[Pring]

What do you guys think if you CV shaft was tweaked a little . That should make a wop wop noise correct ? and it would change when you turn you wheel because the angle of the CV shaft is changing correct ?

 

[DSM1G90]

how's your motor mounts? worn mounts causes the motor to shift off-center and could put excessive wear on CV joints, esp on turns.

 

[Pring]

its not worn.. It's bent like I hit a rock or something going down the road. and non of the Motor mounts I took apart while recently doing the clutch seems torn up.

 

[Redwidow]

The reason the noise goes away when the wheel is turned slightly is that the load (weight of the car) is shifting off of the bad bearing. If you recently replaced it and now have the noise, you a)got a bad part or b) the axle nut was torqued incorrectly. In either case, the bearing needs replaced. The best way to diagnose which bearing it is is with the car on a lift, put it in gear and run it up to about 30-40mph. Then listen from underneath with a stethoscope. Don't forget you have 2 in the rear also.

Right on man, its a wheel bearing for sure.