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Yesterday noticed noise coming from front, please help mitigate the problem.

20535 Views 16 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  DrivenDaily
Yesterday noticed noise coming from front. I sounds like it has med to high pitch.
I may describe it like grinding/growling noise (may be it is not but having hard times to describe exactly), It sounds like gear on gear (but without metallic clings, muffled) or like tire with big and wide groves on pavement.
Don't see any drop in performance. And when I open windows it doesn't sound like noise from tires.
Noise is getting more high pitch as accelerating, but start to be noticeable only at 35 km/h and up. at 60km/h is loudest, then a bit quilter.
When I set Neutral and rolled car down hill with engine on - still same behavior.
Will try to run car downhill w/o engine running.

While on park did 0-4k rpms without that noise.

Haven't tried long driving backwards for long distance. On regular parking at malls and backing from drive way at 5-10 kmh no noise. But maybe I it has to be quite fast about 35-40 km/h to notice.

Oil level is fine a bit on lower side but within the level (it is 400km past needed change), didn't notice oil leaks. Don't know how to check tranny fluid level.

Any ideas? And if you have idea how to verify it?

Thank you.
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Since the noise changes on turns I would say it is the wheel bearing. Best way to test it would be to jack up the car without the wheels touching the ground, and use either a very long screw driver or stethoscope on the wheel bearing (none moving part or your ears will hurt) and compare the two sides while the car is in drive and making the noise. The bad bearing will be loud. It would be safer if you can jack up the whole car, or take it to a shop that might help you determine the source.

I would first start with seeing if there is any play in them by grabbing the top and bottom of the wheel to see if it moves in and out (move top and bottom opposite ways). If that doesn't work then place your hand on the coil spring and see if you can feel excessive vibration while the car is in drive (also listen to the noise). If that doesn't work then you will have to go under the car and listen to it by the way first stated, but use every precaution doing this. Have an extra person around doing any of this to keep the vehicle at the needed speed and for safety.
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