Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

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Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby m1keb1ggs » Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:49 pm

Hi guys,

Just gave my 04 Outback 3.0R its first highway trip on the weekend and found an annoying problem.

I had noticed around town a slight humming relative to speed but I considered it normal road noise, you really have to be listening for it (my Audi A8 was deafening so hearing anything but exhaust is new to me). But between 80-100km/h it gets louder and more defined and sounds almost like a small aircraft buzzing, but at 110km/h its gone completely...literally between 100 and 110 is just fades out to normal tire and wind noise. It seems to be coming from the front.

Prior to this, about a week after picking the car up, I found that both front tires were down to 15psi (!), and the rears at about 20, so I pumped them all up to 36. After I heard the noise I tried 32 as the door sticker says, but no difference either way.

I also have a slight knock in the front left when taking off, and what sounds like a CV joint clunking when turning, but its not constant and only does it twice when say reversing out of a park on heavy lock. I've driven around a carpark on full lock forward and in reverse to test the CVs and they are silent, its just the initial movement when parking etc. so I'm confident its not actually CV joints. Maybe just a bush or similar.

I'm not sure if they are related, but they could both be a bearing. From memory the front bearings are a similar size ball to the CV, so can give a similar noise. But cant seem to get any movement when wobbling the front wheels like I thought with a bearing.

Any ideas? The humming will have to go, its driving me mad. Thinking I might swap the tires around and see if it moves.

Trying to get some ideas before I go hitting up the dealer with it as he's 2 hours away from home.

Thanks in advance.
'76 Golf GL 1.6 - '77 Golf GTi 2.1T 5cyl - '82 Subaru 1.8 - '89 Subaru L 1.8 - '92 Toyota Soarer 2.5TT - '96 Audi S8 4.2 - '99 Outback 2.5 - '05 Outback 3.0R
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby Ric » Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:08 pm

Could be a bush, but another thing to check is the nuts on top of your struts.
See: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11268
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby Dropz » Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:59 pm

initial movement - normal pad slap, the brake pads just shifting ever so slightly in their retainers.

humming - can be wheel bearing, or tyres, but normally it wouldn't go away, it would just get worse with speed. although I haven't driven one at 110....
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby BATMAN87 » Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:38 pm

hi Mike,
i have the same issue with mine. just came back from a long drive down the coast and could hear the exact sound you mentioned.
i also noticed is that when i have the steering wheel slightly to the left it disappears.

how did you go with yours did you find out what was causing it?
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby Dropz » Sun Nov 18, 2012 6:13 pm

Bayram, If your noise goes away when the steering wheel is turned it would indicate a CV joint wearing and beginning to pitt. When you turn the wheel the ball bearings move away from the pitting and then run on a smooth part of the joint, silencing the noise.

Get your CVs checked out on a hoist and listen for a noisy one with a stethoscope, replace as required.
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby BATMAN87 » Mon Nov 19, 2012 9:26 am

Thanks Karl,
I mainly noticed this sound around 80 – 100 km/h. I 1st noticed this after I got my car wheel aligned ( previously was pulling too much to the left and caused the wheel to wear out).
Do you reckon it could be wheel bearing?
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby Dropz » Mon Nov 19, 2012 9:30 am

I would say so, yes. If the tyres are noisy they would be noisy even when you turn the wheel slightly.
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby BATMAN87 » Mon Nov 19, 2012 9:42 am

So wheel bearings stay noisy regardless if I turn the steering wheel either way? I thought when the cv’s are gone they only make a rattling sound when you turn the wheel?

I’ll drop it past my mechanics to take a look at it on the hoist.
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby Dropz » Mon Nov 19, 2012 9:55 am

A cv in the early stages can cause a whirring noise. But it also depends on where the wear is occuring, the most common noise is the clicking on turns, but I have also seen a number of joints make a whirring noise in a straight line, or with the steering wheel slightly turned, without giving off the normal clicking noise.

A wheel bearing can have a few symptoms. You can feel play in the joint when wobbling the wheel, you can have a whirring noise when driving, or turning. If the play is excessive you will hear a noise and can sometimes feel a slight shudder through the steering when driving at speed. Normally a wheel bearing noise is only noted on turning when there is weight transfer onto a wheel (swerving down the road, or turning a corner), putting that bearing under load. It is uncommon for the noise to go away if you just slightly turn the wheel (change leans etc)
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby BATMAN87 » Mon Nov 19, 2012 10:15 am

Awesome stuff Karl,
Thanks heaps mate, sounds like its my CV.
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby b120ute » Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:52 pm

Hi just wondering if you found a solution to your problem?

ive recently become the proud owner of an 08 liberty wagon 3.0R and im experiencing the same problem....
It is a pulsing, rhythmic, hoarse humming or roaring, like a fast whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo at around 80-90kph most noticable at 80kph
im thinking a wheel bearing but im not sure, and im really keen to fix this problem because ruining what would be a great driving experience
in this new car for me

any other input would be greatly appreciated...
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby Dropz » Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:18 pm

Being that your noise is at speed I would say wheel bearing. I'd suggest getting it on a hoist and listening to which bearing is making the noise.
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby wilso_8948 » Fri Dec 21, 2012 7:35 pm

Wheel bearing would be my guess for sure. Take it to speed and steer slightly to left and slightly to right. Noise gets worse turning left = RHS problem, noise gets worse turning right = LHS problem. All related to transfer of weight and bearing being under load
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby b120ute » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:30 pm

thanks for the advice, i will check if it changes with a bit of weight transfer

is this a common thing for this model? mines done 86k kms
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Re: Humming noise relative to speed - 80-100kmh

Postby wilso_8948 » Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:26 pm

Bearings will fail due to alignment issues and general wear and tear. Pretty hard to predict the life. Just make sure you keep on top of aligning your car and running all four of the same tyres
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