Since changing jobs I've not been on the motorway as often - so when I was pootling up the M40 yesterday to my parents I was somewhat dismayed to hear an annoying drone I'm sure wasn't there before.

This morning at my parents I checked the pressures, slightly over so I adjusted accordingly. Still had the drone on the way back down. The drone seemed to be coming from the front right of the car (definitely the front, not so sure about the right bit) so I had a bit of a prod around the suspect area for anything that was loose - nothing. Popped the bonnet, found a few loose leaves in the drainage channels for the windscreen but nothing to account for the droning noise.

The drone varies with speed but not RPM (Constant speed in 6th, changing to 5th makes no difference) so I don't think it's the engine. MPG and handling all seem fine.

Any suggestions as to what it might be?

Cheers, Mark

sounds like tyres to me.....different types will give different road noise

new road surface?

Don't think it's either - haven't changed tyres and I doubt the entire M40 has been secretly resurfaced without me noticing

bearings? something rubbing?

Front right wheel bearing, possibly. Jack the car up and see if the play (if any) on the front right wheel is the same as the left. Check by holding the top and bottom of each tyre and alternately pull and push. Also turn both wheels and listen for any difference in noise. I've had two rear bearings replaced on my Felicia relatively recently and in both cases the noise (drone) became noticeable from 40mph onwards but didn't get any louder past 60mph.

Tyres get noisier as they wear out generally I find.

Try swapping front to rear and see how you get on.

Tyres get noisier as they wear out generally I find.

I used to find the opposite, particularly whenever I re-shoed my old GTIs with Pirelli P6s. I think the drone could come from some harmonics in the tread. It is difficult to imagine this getting louder with wear.

It could be in your head! I have had a drone in my head since i fell of a skateboard in 1996.

I think I have the same problem.

If Im on 2nd at 2000 rpm I hear a knock knockish sound...very faint...and when i floor it i get a 'gargling' sound.

I have no idea what it is but im afraid something is actually wrong :(

I wouldn't describe my sound as knocking or gargling - it's just a constant drone. I think it's off to the dealers to get it looked at. I'll go mad if it drones all the way up to loch ness next month!

Worn bearings don't 'gargle' - they produce an annoying drone.

It wasn't my skateboard

Just had a phone call from the dealer - it is indeed a failed wheel bearing. Well done to everyone who guessed correctly

Thanks, Mark

yhman I have just had the EXACT same problem over the past few days, strange how you never heard about something then you get two people with the same time! Mine is worse at 30 mph and 48 mph though, and again nothing seems amiss? wonder if something is clogged in the intercooler or one or the pipes or something, as the car appears to accelerate like always and MPG isnt affected either, mine doesnt start below 30 mph though...

I found that in the few days after first noticing the drone things were deteriorating rather rapidly. Happily it's being replaced under warrenty but I'm bit suprised it went on a car that hasn't done 13k miles.

The Fabia bearings are of the same constructions as these:

http://www.lupo3lclub.de/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2146&highlight=

NOT for regular DIY'ers