Droning/whining front

[Choongmu]

Hi all. As the title started driving this morning and notice a droning/whining sound from the front end. More noticeable around 50/60mph.

Sounds more engine/driveshaft based rather than wheel bearings, but I'm no mechanic. Whatever it is it sounds expensive!

Any ideas? Could this be time to trade the ol girl in for a new model!!!

[Choongmu]

Any ideas, even if its what a wheel bearing or driveshaft etc will sound or manifest itself like?

[mbames]

any worse when cornering?

[Bodge]

If the droning noise is loudest at about 45mph then it will be a front wheel bearing.

If you get up to 50mph, then dip the clutch and put it in neutral, is the noise still the same? It obviously will be if it's a bearing. The noise should also be hard to hear at low speeds and motorway speeds.

Driveshaft/CV/diff problems normally rear their head when under load (accelerating hard etc.).

It's confusing to find out which side the bad bearing is on though, as the bearings are double row angular contact ball bearings (made by NSK).

[mac11irl]

Id be going down the bearing route too... need to listen for when the note/volume changes, and if cornering makes any changes, that will help figure out which side.

[Choongmu]

Cheers. It's hardly audible below 30 but no change when cornering. Have tried coasting in neutral and still there sO I'm guessing not driveshaft then. is boosting and accelerating fine too.

It has to go in next Friday as the window reg has broken so I'll ask them to check then. Just wanted an idea to know how much to save haha

[mac11irl]

If its still the same in neutral coast, then its a bearing.. Might only be starting to fail, so the change in corners isnt noticable yet.