"DRONING NOISE" noticable around 55-65mph

[stevrs08]

Hello folks...

Took delivery of the Fabia Vrs today and had a decent drive in it.

One noticeable annoyance,which I did notice on test,but did`nt seem as loud,is a droning around 55-65 mph.

Below 55 and above 65 it isn't really noticeable..

Sounded like a wheel bearing but im told its the tyres.......

Fitted with Yokohama Prada Spec 2`s all round.

Anyone else came across this annoying drone.....

CHEERS GUYS...

[andy3270]

Mine has them on it and is fine so probably something else. Good luck with it

[Ant-Vrs]

It could be a wheel bearing I think a few on here have gone on the rear. Mine went on the rear only doing 20+k but ive got camber shims in the rear.

Ant

[aholloway21]

Try the old rolling bearing test. It's not 100% but can often show a bearing up.

Straight bit of road that's quiet. Pick up speed and then allow the car to coast. Gently swerve left to right in big movements. As the weight shifts side to side the culprit bearing noise should change volume and pitch.

[fabiamk2SE]

Surely if its tyre noise itll vary depending on road surface and would get louder the faster you go.

Road noise doesnt usually get noisey at 50mph and quiet after that,,,

[GeneralPurpose]

It could be a wheel bearing in it's early stages of going bad as others are saying. But bearings once they start to go and in the early stages usually drone at varying speeds once they are hot. And as has been said, you can often detect it more as the car is turned into a bend one way or the other. It will get louder. After a 70mph cruise you should be able to detect a drone when it comes in maybe at 45mph, and it will stay with the car until wind noise drowns it out. It will get worse and worse as the miles go on. But be wary. If the noise is from the front of the car, it seemingly may be coming from the left of the vehicle, but it may be the righthand side wheel bearing that's going and visa versa. The best way to tell is take it for a long drive and get it up on a wheels free lift device and rotate each wheel separately. If it's at the stage where it needs replacing the duff bearing will show up with some noise as the wheel is rotated. But you sometimes have to listen hard.  My bet is it's the tyres. I've experienced this drone on more than one car at specific speeds and it was the tyres droning at a particular speed range on some types of road surface. You are also getting used to the 'new' car and hearing different noises to what you normally hear. Wait and see is my advice for now. 

[sharkrider]

I would say its the tyres

[stevrs08]

Thanks for all the replies folks......

Looks like it could be either at the mo,but it is a Skoda approved used car so has warranty............

As Estate Man says,new car,new sounds,might be me making it louder than it seems.......

Thanks for now though everyone...

[horkin]

It's impossible to say. I would just add that when I bought my current car I upgraded form the little 1.2 HTP and the new one came with 16" wheels. As these are wider than the other car I noticed the tyre noise drone straight away.

I don't hear it now as I am used to it but there is no doubt in my mind the 16" Goodyears are noisier than the same tyres but 15" on the previous Fabia so it just might be tyre drone.

 

Harry.

[Mr j]

+1 for the tyres I have the same

ones all round and have had them on for 6k I'm forever jacking the car up and spinning the wheel to no avail.

[mrgf]

As you only just purchased it, why not return to the dealer and ask them to test drive it. Say your'e not happy with the droning and throw in the suggestion of both the tyre and wheel bearing fault possibilities. They may agree and swap the bearings as its quite simple and if it still persists, then you will know its most likely your tyres. You could then agree to live with the noise until they war out and need replacing or see if they will change them for a different brand. Even if they wont change them, (They may say its a design flaw, not a warranty fault) you'll know the outcome and drive happy with the knowledge you have brand new wheel bearings that will last way past the warranty period!

[Prykey]

It's not a passenger is it? :evil:

[stevrs08]

Hello all.

Had a blast down the motorway today and found out that at 80mph (I mean 70mph) the drone seems to disappear......

Meanwhile I took the car to a tyre specialist and they have told me that the tread pattern of the Yokohama Parada could indeed drone and varying surfaces and speeds will give a different drone.(which it does)

The service guy at the dealership is 100% sure that the drone is the tyres.....

The saga continues....... :no:

[sharkrider]

I agree with the above statements.... I'm a bit of a tyre snob..... sadly I can recognise tyres by tread patterns ect .... I run track tyres in the summer, and you would swear I had no wheel bearings if you drove the car (its all due to large tread blocks) when my winters go on , the noise vanishes.... maxxiz Z1's are the same, big blocks, the parada 2 is primarily designed, as a summer tyre for occasional track use, hensce the massive blocks, and relatively poor water evacuation.... the only downside to such good dry grip, is noise.

[stevrs08]

I agree with the above statements.... I'm a bit of a tyre snob..... sadly I can recognise tyres by tread patterns ect .... I run track tyres in the summer, and you would swear I had no wheel bearings if you drove the car (its all due to large tread blocks) when my winters go on , the noise vanishes.... maxxiz Z1's are the same, big blocks, the parada 2 is primarily designed, as a summer tyre for occasional track use, hensce the massive blocks, and relatively poor water evacuation.... the only downside to such good dry grip, is noise.

sharkrider

Cheers for this....

I think the paradas will be binned very soon,i don't think they have been on the car long......maybe sell them for track use??

Anyhow,the tyre fitter showed me some Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres as he was explaning how the drone is created....

Had Michelins on the Octy Vrs and didn't have any probs..

Perhaps a set of 4 of these and hopefully a more pleasant drive..

Cheers..

[sharkrider]

PS3's are a much liked tyre, havent tried them myself, but a couple of my mates swear by them.

[stevrs08]

Evening all...

Update on the tyre drone situation,had the Paradas replaced today with Michelin Pilot Sport 3`s all round and its like a different car..

So now I can start enjoying the car instead of being tortured by tyre noise.....

£400 well spent me thinks......

[sharkrider]

not a bad price for such a good tyre either! what do I win?!

[stevrs08]

Further update on the tyre situation.....

Having just travelled 500 miles around Argyll,it seems that the drone is coming back and getting louder.

Surely not the tyres after 1000 miles since fitting??

Could the noise actually be a wheel bearing...

I did notice when braking the noise quietens and on some road surfaces its louder.... 

What is going on,this noise is really spoiling the car.....

[R1chard]

How many miles has the car done ?

Just had my monte in the dealer and they've said the bearing is on its way out on the front and it's only done 24k ;(

[faradaycage]

How many miles has the car done ?

Just had my monte in the dealer and they've said the bearing is on its way out on the front and it's only done 24k ;(

Thats totally unacceptable.I'd really like to know who manufactures wheelbearings for Skoda,because the subject / problem of early failing bearings right across the model range seems to come up far too frequently of late.

[stevrs08]

How many miles has the car done ?

Just had my monte in the dealer and they've said the bearing is on its way out on the front and it's only done 24k ;(

R1chard...

Mines done 26k...

Do you get a noise from them....??

Cheers matey

[R1chard]

Thats totally unacceptable.I'd really like to know who manufactures wheelbearings for Skoda,because the subject / problem of early failing bearings right across the model range seems to come up far too frequently of late.

 

I'd be pretty annoyed if I had to pay for it but thankfully the car is still under warranty, failing at 24k is pretty poor considering my mk1 vrs was on 148k with all original bearings and was absolutely fine!

 

R1chard...

Mines done 26k...

Do you get a noise from them....??

Cheers matey

 

Yes mine is the front drivers side bearing and is most noticeable when going round right hand corners, kinda hard to describe the sound but you'd certainly know when one is on its way out!

[sharkrider]

I have 15mm spacers on the front, and 20 mm spacers on the back, and track my car a lot... I have 40k on, and no bearing issues, so I doubt there is a quality issue

[Rooted]

Tyre noises are very noticeable and tyre choices, and then different road surfaces have different noises.

 

I have no Parcel shelf on a Hatch and it sounds the same as an Estate i sometimes drive,

but put the Parcel self on the hatch and road noise is less noticeable.

 

& then the exhaust noise does start to change as the Resonator gets older IME.

 

If it is a Wheel Bearing then you are going to have to find which one, because other wise people are guessing.

 

As a trial, go drive a bit of road, and see how it sounds,

inflate the tyres by about 5 psi and see if there is much difference.

then let the tyres back down obviously after the test.  Its just to see if it is Tyre noise or you can pick up on a wheel bearing.

More often it is brakes making a bit of noise.

 

In the other post you were saying the brakes are not great,

so are the disc edges rusty and have you checked the pads.?

 

 Your can is pretty low mileage but that does not mean the pads are not shot.