Hello all, your help would be appreciated to identify the cause of a weird noise that's just started on my 2009 Superb. 

 

Best way I can describe it is a whirring drone, kind of mid-low frequency range, appears at 30 mph and gets louder as spreed increases. Not actually that loud but definitely there, and definitely wasn't there yesterday.

 

It only changes with variations in road speed. No change with changes in engine speed, stays constant with clutch in or out and whatever gear it's in. So it's not engine, gearbox or clutch.

 

Any ideas? Could it be wheel bearings? CV joints? Has anyone else experienced this?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Could be

 

Tyre(s) - try swapping/using spare, check for abnormal wear and sawtoothing.

 

Wheel bearing - lift each wheel in turn, place one hand on mid point of coil spring and rotate wheel with other. Vibrations felt if bad bearing 

 

Gearbox (Final drive/bearings/lack of oil) - check for oil leaks, require specialist equipment for further diagnosis (microphone/recording)

I would start with looking at the tyres for saw-toothing at the back.

 

Could be wheel bearings as you say. Don't presume its not from the gearbox, regardless of the clutch or gear selector, if the wheels are spinning there are elements of the gearbox and diff that will always be spinning

 

I would wait and see if it develops

Ill be following this one, having got similiar.

All was good until i put the car up onto a low roundabout. Oops!! Tbh, ive hit bigger potholes.

 

Noise develops in at 50ish, turns into a thrumming drone at bang on 65.

Ive swapped tyres front to back with no change. And as they are nearly new crossclimates they van stay on a bit longer.

Two garages cant find anything wrong, first one had it on a lift and check bearings being driven at 30mph using a stethoscope type thing. All good they say but my thoughts are that the bearings are not loaded being tested that way. Second was a tracking check and road test, again couldnt find anything.

 

Next plan is to replace front wheel bearings and go from there.

I had this recently.

 

Having suffered from the droning / saw-toothing rear tyre issue that seems to plague a lot of Superb's I was all too familiar with the annoying noise.

 

So, I swapped the tyres front to rear. No difference.

 

Whilst the car was jacked up I checked for play in all four wheel bearings, nothing. All rotated smoothly and no movement.

 

Put up with it for a few more months, as it got progressively worse.

 

Ended up booking it in at a local indy, diagnosed it as the offside rear wheel bearing. Whilst under the car they noticed a snapped rear coil spring too.

 

A new bearing and two new coil springs later she's as quiet as a mouse again.

 

* 8 years old @ circa 140,000 miles.

 

Edited 14 March, 20197 yr by silver1011

Really appreciate the advice guys. So today I took it to my local tire place, they swapped front wheels with back, there was no sign of wear or sawtoothing, but he did find some roughness in the rear nearside bearing. 

 

The noise is still there so I'm having the bearing replaced on Saturday. I will report back with results!

Update: fixed!

Had rear passenger side bearing replaced this morning, took it for a run on motorway, and the noise is totally gone. Excellent!

 

Thanks again folks for your advice.

Good news then,

One last thing, did your noise appear to be coming from front or back of car? Mine definatley appears to be from front 

17 hours ago, BigDave982 said:

Good news then,

One last thing, did your noise appear to be coming from front or back of car? Mine definatley appears to be from front 

It was very difficult to tell to be honest, but at its noisiest it seemed more back than front.

Update

 

Changed both fronts today,ns a bit rough with slight play,o/s , well, knackered!!! Rough and play in it.

Whirring noise has gone so thats good.

 

A bit of trouvle with locking nuts, adaptor slipping but got it off. Skoda dealer could supply new adaptor (correct for all wheels) with 1 bolt for about £32 or a complete new set for £37!!!!!! Work that one out. Got home and went to change to new bolts and adaptor slips in two of them. Sourced what i hope is correct part , has the right letter stamped on it and looks rigjt so hopefully its the right one and i dont get a puncture in the mean time

sawtooth on a Merc front tyre cost me loads and almost sent me mad

 

i changed hubs bearings brakes... it also had a floating rear parking brake shoe making a noise...due to a broken 10p spring

On 20/03/2019 at 17:23, BigDave982 said:

Changed both fronts today,ns a bit rough with slight play,o/s , well, knackered!!! Rough and play in it.

Whirring noise has gone so thats good.

 

Wheel bearings?

On 20/03/2019 at 17:23, BigDave982 said:

A bit of trouvle with locking nuts, adaptor slipping but got it off.

 

I wouldn't bother replacing the locking wheel nuts, just replace them with regular bolts.

 

Not many Superb owners need to worry about alloy wheel theft.

3 hours ago, silver1011 said:

 

Wheel bearings?

Yes sorry, wheel bearings