Noise akin to lane departure rumble strips!

[mcole439]

Hi,

Recently had my RS serviced (30k) and had wheels and tyres rotated, balanced and aligned. Car came back with faint rumble in front end that I didn't think much of initially but it steadily got worse, sounding something like the rumble strips on the side of freeways! I went back to the dealer and they advised that the tyes that had been on the back had saw tooth wear (lots of threads about this, I know). They advised that as they were now on the front, the noise was much more obvious.

I then got a second opinion at a tyre and they demonstrated the affect of saw tooth wear... Run your hand one way around the circumference of the tyre and it feels smooth, run it the other way and you feel the pronounced edges of each tread block. I was convinced, so bought 4 new Goodyear Asym 2 tyres. These are premium tyres in my book so was expecting good things. To my dismay the noise was still there, maybe even worse. It drowns out all engine noise at any speed above 40kph!

I then did some reading on this forum and Briskoda re wheel alignment. Took the car to Pedders and they did another alignment and I insisted on seeing the before and after numbers, I also asked them to dial out some of the camber on the rear wheels. Numbers show that the toe in was off by degrees and camber on the front was not in spec either. Rear camber is now under 1 degree (was closer to 2 degrees prior).

Result is the car is tracking nice and seems to roll better too... (rolling up to lights seems to go on forever where previously it felt like the brakes were on ever so slightly) But the Bl00dy noise is till there!!! I think it has been reduced as I can here engine noise between 40kmh to 60kmh where previously I couldn't. But it still aint fixed. Pedders advised they think its a wheel bearing but I'm sceptical. I'm taking the car back to dealer on Tuesday so I'll let you know how it goes but any feedback would be appreciated.

Cheers...

[ffoff]

Does it get louder the faster you go?

[Wolfgang]

Just a thought, it's not one of the plastic shrouds under the front of the car vibrating.

[K1W1]

Castellated tyres it's quite common with the poor standard suspension set up. The only fix is to put up with it until the tyres wear back to a more normal pattern (which they never will) or get new tyres.
Basically from a noise point of view the tyres are stuffed.

[redline3345]

[/COLOR]I have found with my Octy vRS wagon that having the back seats down amplifies road noise, but not the extent that you are describing. It sounds more like a wheel bearing. They can just fail from dodgy quality control, but I've been advised they get upset with hitting big potholes and gutters as well. If it's particularly bad, you may get a change in pitch or volume of the rumble in turns, as the wheels rotate at different speeds in a turn and have weight transfer also. Is it louder on one side of the car than the other - you could drive at slow speeds in a non-populated area and get someone to poke their head out the window and listen.

I had a wheel bearing problem with my last car - MY05 Subaru Liberty; the noise started as a faint rumble and just got louder and louder - sounds familiar! In the end it also veered to the right a bit (RHS bearing was stuffed). The dealer talked rubbish about wheel alignment - it would have to be pretty misaligned to start generating noise to drown out the engine - and he also got scary talking about gearbox/diff bearings as well.

You've obviously eliminated the possibility of tyres being the cause.

If you're handy, you can check the bearings by jacking up each wheel, removing the wheel and the brake pads (to remove resistance) and then rotate each bearing race. A dodgy one that's making a big noise when driving should present itself as being rough to rotate and may even be noisy at hand speeds. It will should be markedly different to the others.

The subey bearing was $400, but fairly easy to replace and fixed the problem instantly.

Best of luck!

[mcole439]

[/COLOR]I have found with my Octy vRS wagon that having the back seats down amplifies road noise, but not the extent that you are describing. It sounds more like a wheel bearing. They can just fail from dodgy quality control, but I've been advised they get upset with hitting big potholes and gutters as well. If it's particularly bad, you may get a change in pitch or volume of the rumble in turns, as the wheels rotate at different speeds in a turn and have weight transfer also. Is it louder on one side of the car than the other - you could drive at slow speeds in a non-populated area and get someone to poke their head out the window and listen.

I had a wheel bearing problem with my last car - MY05 Subaru Liberty; the noise started as a faint rumble and just got louder and louder - sounds familiar! In the end it also veered to the right a bit (RHS bearing was stuffed). The dealer talked rubbish about wheel alignment - it would have to be pretty misaligned to start generating noise to drown out the engine - and he also got scary talking about gearbox/diff bearings as well.

You've obviously eliminated the possibility of tyres being the cause.

If you're handy, you can check the bearings by jacking up each wheel, removing the wheel and the brake pads (to remove resistance) and then rotate each bearing race. A dodgy one that's making a big noise when driving should present itself as being rough to rotate and may even be noisy at hand speeds. It will should be markedly different to the others.

The subey bearing was $400, but fairly easy to replace and fixed the problem instantly.

Best of luck!

I hope you're right redline! Hopefully just a wheel bearing that will be placed under warranty.

The noise kicks in at about 40 then gets louder and louder. The pitch of the noise gets higher with speed also At 100 its a steady droning rumble that even the radio can't drown out. It's hard to tell but I believe it's coming from front passenger side but in board of the wheel hub. Sounds closer to centre line of the car, say where the uni joint goes into gearbox. But like I said its such an invasive noise that's it's hard to tell exactly where it's coming from.

[redline3345]

I hope you're right redline! Hopefully just a wheel bearing that will be placed under warranty.

The noise kicks in at about 40 then gets louder and louder. The pitch of the noise gets higher with speed also At 100 its a steady droning rumble that even the radio can't drown out. It's hard to tell but I believe it's coming from front passenger side but in board of the wheel hub. Sounds closer to centre line of the car, say where the uni joint goes into gearbox. But like I said its such an invasive noise that's it's hard to tell exactly where it's coming from.

Yeah, that sounds pretty similar to the Subaru noise I had - hope it's just a wheel bearing! Noises can be so damn difficult to diagnose as the body and components in it can amplify noise, funnel it towards other areas etc.

---------- Post added at 11:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 PM ----------

This: Volkswagen Golf V 2.0T > ES#2538713 Front Wheel Bearing Assembly With Hub - Priced Each - 1T0498621 may or may not interest you!

[Lucas_R]

FYI - if it's a wheel bearing you will be able to hear it from the second you take off from a standstill. The noise from a dud wheel bearing will / should get louder the faster you go. It may also make more or less noise as you are turning left or right and more or less load is placed on the affected wheel.

[gldgti]

I dont think you could say that you have eliminated the tyres as the problem. If your toe angle was out by whole degrees, you can easily cause problem with the tyres in mere km of driving depending on how fast you go.

This is such a common thing with these A5 platform cars that I would not rule out a wheel bearing but I would seriously investigate the tyre point of view further. Glad you've got the alignment sorted now anyway, I would guess with your next set you will be sorted.

[mcole439]

I dont think you could say that you have eliminated the tyres as the problem. If your toe angle was out by whole degrees, you can easily cause problem with the tyres in mere km of driving depending on how fast you go.

This is such a common thing with these A5 platform cars that I would not rule out a wheel bearing but I would seriously investigate the tyre point of view further. Glad you've got the alignment sorted now anyway, I would guess with your next set you will be sorted.

The noise was there as soon as I drove out of the tyre retailer's yard, once I got above 40kmh the only thing louder than that noise was my swearing! Skoda had the car today and have diagnosed a wheel bearing as the problem. it'll be replaced on Friday and hopefully then I can get some peace and quiet!

[dazag]

on a side note, I'm looking to buy some GY Asym 2's myself, can you give me some feedback on them once you've done a few k's after the bearing problem is fixed.

[mcole439]

Saga continues... Dealer managed to strip the thread on what he described as the "tie rod" whilst attempting to replace the wheel bearing! At least admitted to the f%^k up. But it now means I'm driving around a Fabia all weekend. On a positive note, the little 77tsi has a rip snorting exhaust note that makes it a hoot to drive!

[mcole439]

Saga continues... Dealer managed to strip the thread on what he described as the "tie rod" whilst attempting to replace the wheel bearing! At least admitted to the f%^k up. But it now means I'm driving around a Fabia all weekend. On a positive note, the little 77tsi has a rip snorting exhaust note that makes it a hoot to drive!

FIXED! so it was the wheel bearing after all! Moral of the story, take in all the advice and get second and third opinions if necessary before handing over the hard earned...

Will have to wait a while (at least for an aggressive start from lights on a wet road) to give much feedback on the Goodyears. The only observation I can make so far is they have more rim protection on the sidewall than the Continentals and the low speed ride is ever so slightly better. Car sounds whisper quiet but that may be deceptive as it sounded like a grader for the last two weeks and the Fabia I had over the weekend was fun but raucous!