Hi all

I have a noise and it can only be described as a 'Wah Wah' effect. Not exceptionally loud but you tune in to it. If I had to place it I would think close to driver (but - in fairness I am not great at noise location).

 

It is most noticeable at 60mph - faster and general noise drowns it. It is also heard at slightly lower speeds. It is not engine related but road speed. Although I have Goodyear tyres fitted it can also be heard with my Nokian winter's on.

 

Familiar to anyone.

 

Bill 

Wheel bearing?

4 minutes ago, Urrell said:

Wheel bearing?

 

Usually wheel bearing is a drone that varies with speed - this I have never heard on any other vehicle. But you never know.

 

Thanks Urrell.

 

Bill 

Have a look at the tyres for any abnormal or 'Saw Tooth' type tread wear,it can give the type of noise you might be describing.

I had it on our polo a couple of years ago,a couple of new tyres sorted it.

7 minutes ago, YS53 said:

Have a look at the tyres for any abnormal or 'Saw Tooth' type tread wear,it can give the type of noise you might be describing.

I had it on our polo a couple of years ago,a couple of new tyres sorted it.

 

Same noise with my winter's on.

 

Bill 

 

1 hour ago, lawnmowerman said:

 

Same noise with my winter's on.

 

Bill 

Hi Bill

Better check both sets then 

Those types of noises are really annoying and it is difficult to figure what area of the car the noise is emanating from.

36 minutes ago, YS53 said:

 

Hi Bill

Better check both sets then 

Those types of noises are really annoying and it is difficult to figure what area of the car the noise is emanating from.

 

Love it 

 

Yup, tyres are a funny thing. I remember when Rover introduced the Buick V8 to the P6 that the rear tyres wore in a 'W' shape across the tread. The solution was to move the Hooke's joint on the prop-shaft out of alignment by 90 degrees. Then on Triumph 1300's the quality was so bad that the wheels & tyres were both out of round. Solution? Mount the tyre in such a way as to minimise the out of round of the assembly - sheesh - quality control at its best.

 

Strange things cars & tyres.

 

Bill  

Edited 30 October, 20187 yr by lawnmowerman
Additional info.

13 hours ago, lawnmowerman said:

 

Usually wheel bearing is a drone that varies with speed - this I have never heard on any other vehicle. But you never know.

 

 

On 2 out of 3 wheel bearings that I have had fail 2 gave the wah-wah that you talk of.
Don't forget the bearings are travelling around at about half the speed of the wheel rotation.

 

 

 

Well, someone had to  .......

 

Sorry.

 

does it sound like HAW HAW in reverse?

18 hours ago, lawnmowerman said:

on Triumph 1300's the quality was so bad that the wheels & tyres were both out of round.

Is it fair to blame out of round tyres on British Laylow?

We went to northern France in June to watch the Tour, travelling in son's Yeti.

I could hear a 'wah-wah' drone at about 40mph, (not lower, not higher) yet he couldn't. Reminded me of earlier bearing wear in A1100, Maestro, Montego etc (Yes, I'm that old).  It worried me sufficiently to insist he have it investigated before driving to the Med with his brood in August for our 'whole family' holiday.

 

Dealer found no bearings issue (37000 miles) but found two fat screws in OSF which although having caused not the slightest deflation, the dealer was reluctant to repair the tyre - 4-5mm max left.

 

Two new front tyres later (though not from the dealer- what do they gain by overcharging so?) and the 'wah-wah' and £200 had vanished.

 

(Now see that my post is probably not relevant to you as the noise is consistent over summers and winters but YS53 found similar solution to son through replacement tyres.

 Info may be useful to others?)

When I had a wheel bearing GO once it was more of a dull clicking sound and speed related.

I have had some various different noises caused by wheel bearings,sometimes the drone/woo woo  type noise (the 'tone' usually changing slightly when cornering),I have also had a more 'grumbling' 'rumbling' feel/noise from FWD front wheel bearings.

The noise from the Saw Toothed tyres was quite impressive and not vastly unlike a wheel bearingy noise (I like technical language )

On 31/10/2018 at 09:57, Urrell said:

 

On 2 out of 3 wheel bearings that I have had fail 2 gave the wah-wah that you talk of.
Don't forget the bearings are travelling around at about half the speed of the wheel rotation.

 

Hmmm - thinks

 

Bill 

On 31/10/2018 at 16:38, Sad555 said:

does it sound like HAW HAW in reverse?

 

Not sure - must be a fault cause try as I might I can't get it to 60 in reverse!

 

Bill 

On 31/10/2018 at 16:59, KenONeill said:

Is it fair to blame out of round tyres on British Laylow?

 

Well my post wasn't naming them as regards blame. Then, wheels were mounted with tyres and balanced before arriving at the factory. Not sure if it was the wheel supplier who married them together or the tyre manufacturer .

 

But anyhow no question that the quality control was pathetic. Ultimately, the car manufacturer must take it on the chin - they fitted the assemblies to their cars after all.

 

Bill  

Thanks for all your feedback. Have had minus temperatures 3 times this week so definitely time to get the winter's back on. I'll pay critical attention in the next few days on a specific part of my journey to work and then when I get the winter's on.

 

We'll see how it goes.

 

Cheers, Bill 

@lawnmowerman - OK; I wasn't aware that BL had outsourced wheel production in that period.

I had a slide on ice at a bend on Monday, with new winters on, so can't beat physics.

 

Unfortunately all off again now as one of the new wheels and tyres has a slow leak so its gone back to be fixed, and I don't want to drive on mixed wheels.

 

All wheels swapped, in the dark in under an hour, so not too bad. Only real issue was getting the alloys back on and the first bolt in as difficult to get into position and align at the same time as threading the first bolt. I have odered a stud from Amazon for £6.99. You screw this into the topmost wheel stud hole in the hub and use this to guide the wheel into place and support it whilst getting other studs in. Inserted by hand tightening and removal with a knurled area for grip. Should make it much quicker and easier next time. It turns out to be much easier to fit a wheel with a steel rim than an alloy rim as you can see the centre lip on the hub and the steel wheel sits much easier on this.

 

Advertised for VW but Skoda is same size.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alloy-alignment-Thread-suitable-Volkswagen/dp/B01F5AA3FG/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1541154633&sr=8-18&keywords=vw+stud+wheel

Edited 2 November, 20187 yr by kenfowler3966