Humming noise while driving (video)

[Saturdee]

I'm a noob help me. There's a weird humming noise when I drive, yes I've searched but I have a video so I figured it would be easier to determine what it could be. It gets louder with more weight in the car I believe, and this repeated humming noise gets faster as I speed up, and slower as I slow down. Sounds like it's coming from the back but not positive.

Turn those speakers up a little bit and listen, you'll hear it.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZTqa-BQ1RE

 

[rlacasse1]

Can't play the video but from what you described, It sounds like a tire issue. My car use to hum when the tires got warped from the insane camber issue I had with my rear wheels.

 

[Saturdee]

Okay good... I was hoping is wasn't something worse. I was kind of nervous because for some reason my car is lower on the driver side, like it leans a little bit. Like above the space between the tire and body is close to an inch higher on the passenger side, any clue what that could be? There was also damage to the plastic covers around the driver side wheel, that covers the belts.

 

[DSM1G90]

..strut died and the tire is eating into the plastic inner fender? ...

 

[GsXdSmKingGsX]

You checked your alignment lately? Or maybe you wheel bearing is crap. It sounds like your tires is wobbling.

 

[rlacasse1]

Check out your struts dude.

 

[Saturdee]

You checked your alignment lately? Or maybe you wheel bearing is crap. It sounds like your tires is wobbling.

Which one would most likely cause the wobble? Or could it be both?

 

[rlacasse1]

Your bearing would not make your car sag and inch. You can jack up the rear and see if you can wiggle the tires back and forth by holding onto the top and bottom and wiggling.

With that much sag though, it sounds like something is up with a strut or spring or something.

 

[Saturdee]

Alright, I'll check the back tires out hopefully tomorrow. If I can wiggle one of the rear tires, then that's a bad bearing correct? As I said I'm a noob, so try not to facepalm too much.

And for my sagging problem, send it to a shop?

 

[and1chewy]

Your bearing would not make your car sag and inch. You can jack up the rear and see if you can wiggle the tires back and forth by holding onto the top and bottom and wiggling.

With that much sag though, it sounds like something is up with a strut or spring or something.

completely agree i would lean towards a bearing as well with the humming noise plus i dont thing there is a plastic liner in the back as there is in the front........not completly sure on that point mine is under a cover for the winter but u would notice debre in ## wheel well and towards the back mud flap if the tire was rubbing off plastics.... good luck

 

[DSM1G90]

You can do the same bearing check with the car on the ground. Just grab onto the top part of the tire and give it a good shake.

Rear bearings are pressed into the rotors, thus the entire rotor have to be replaced if so...

 

[Saturdee]

Okay I'll check out the rear wheel soon and see if it wobles. Say it does wobble, and I do need new struts/springs, could anyone give me an estimate of how much that would cost?

 

[rlacasse1]

About 0 dollars if you have as much sh!t laying around as a typical DSMer.

Fairly cheap at a junkyard, except the bearing,you would want to buy that new and I do not know how much they go for.

Ok,I was finally able to listen to the video.

That is definitely your rear tire jacked up from running wicked amounts of camber because your car is sagging like that.

Replace your strut, throw on new/used/good tire. And see how it goes.

 

[eligst21]

yeah from the sound of it i think it'd be the inside wear of the tire from camber wear like stated. my car had horrible camber wear in the back and it was so loud i couldn't hear the radio. bought new tires and rotate them frequent to get the most mileage out of them. i was told with lowered cars with springs, even with a camber kit they will still wear. so i just rotate them often.

 

[Saturdee]

So you guys think I'd be alright buying used struts/springs from a junkyard? I kinda want to just buy them new so I know they will last for a long time, but I heard they can be quite expensive.

 

[rlacasse1]

I would prefer them new since you never know what you are getting at a junkyard. But, if you can find a good one at the junkyard, I don't see why not.

or check the part outs on this site. There will probably be a 1g in there somewhere.

 

[95SleeperDSM]

Hey there's always the possibility that the e-brake is dragging or your wheel bearing is on its way out does it only happen within certain speeds or basically when driving at any time faster = louder??

 

[JusMX141]

My FWD TSi made the same noise when the left rear bearing was taking a shit.

 

[DSM1G90]

It's usually the safe practice to replace struts in pairs so the suspension doesn't suffer.. yet, the big question if any of the struts show leakage - did you do the "bounce" test to see if there is a weak strut where you grab onto the bumper, rock it up and down two times then let go and if it stop on the first bounce, the strut is good, but when you let go and it bounces more than once, the strut is weak.

I call it a bearing if there is noise like that ... Wait until the front hub bearing begin to go, then you really got some noise ...

-DSM

 

[darthvadar tsi]

its your wheel bearing...

 

[95GSX_FTW]

Almost sounds like the wheel bearing. I had the same noise on my 2g AWD. I say replace it with a new one, But then again might aswell do the whole strut/springs if you got the cash for it.

 

[Saturdee]

Alright, so it's most likely my wheel bearing in the rear making the noise, got that. Now I just gotta focus on my car leaning... I'll save up to replace both front struts just to be safe, the back ones should be fine right?

And to 95sleeperDSM, yes, the faster I go the more fast paced/louder it gets.

 

[95SleeperDSM]

Alright then if it gets louder as you increase speed then im going to have to say its your wheel bearing in my opinion anyways. when my front wheel bearing went trust me i knew what a god awful noise so if its loud im pretty sure you should be fine with a bearing replacement but remember as we all should know ALWAYS replace EVERYTHING in pairs ### when one goes the others right behind it. as for the lean make sure its struts i mean visual signs such as bounce test leaky struts are pretty easy to see if not then check for spring wear / collapse happened to me believe it or not. Anyways good luck bud but replace in pairs is my only thing i can tell you itll save money and most importantly down time in the long run.

 

[ALBurgundy]

Its very simple to diag a wheel bearing.
drive at the speed you hear the noise or humming and then put a load on either wheel.
meaning turn the wheel to the right and then to the left putting pressure on one side and removing it from the other.

Or you could always jack it up and grab the wheels at 12 and 6 and feel for play.
Any play means the wheel bearing is dead and its time to replace it

 

[white92talontsi]

You can use the trick stated above. To pinpoint it I jack the car up and have someone run the car up to speed while I listen with a scope.

sent from my evo.