My 2018 Octavia Se has started making a sort of throbbing hum when i approach 60 mph, which persists, though maybe subdues a bit, as i get up to 70.      It comes from the front of the car (i can't be any more precise), and it has a cadence of about a second.   (I haven't been able to convince myself if the frequency changes with speed.)

 

It can be worryingly intrusive, and surely wasn't there before Christmas.   Extensive research (5 minutes on google) suggests that it might be a problem with the wheel bearings;   but the car's only done 24000 miles, so, i'm a bit surprised.   Anyone experienced anything similar?    Ideas, suggestions?

 

Thanks

ian

1 hour ago, ian-h said:

a sort of throbbing hum when i approach 60 mph, which persists, though maybe subdues a bit, as i get up to 70.

I'd start by self-inspecting the tyres for any signs of uneven tread depth, particularly if the sound seems to come from one corner (start there).

4 hours ago, ian-h said:

My 2018 Octavia Se has started making a sort of throbbing hum when i approach 60 mph, which persists, though maybe subdues a bit, as i get up to 70.      It comes from the front of the car (i can't be any more precise), and it has a cadence of about a second.   (I haven't been able to convince myself if the frequency changes with speed.)

 

It can be worryingly intrusive, and surely wasn't there before Christmas.   Extensive research (5 minutes on google) suggests that it might be a problem with the wheel bearings;   but the car's only done 24000 miles, so, i'm a bit surprised.   Anyone experienced anything similar?    Ideas, suggestions?

 

Thanks

ian

Although it was a great car, I ended up selling my MkIII Octavia prematurely due to the same reason. 3 garages said the bearings were fine, however the noise from 60 mph onwards droned so badly that even my wife, who is usually blissfully unaware of any noises or car problems, complained of the droning. Yes I could have replaced all the bearings but I left that to the next owner. I have experienced saw toothing on my MkII Octavia so I am more than aware of the problem and noise. However the droning on the MkIII started after a new set of tyres had only done about 2000 miles before the noise started.  It was so bad, I turned around on a long drive to Bristol and booked a garage inspection. There hadn't been a problem prior to this. The car had done  mid 30000k miles. 

Before I decided on my VRS I jumped into a friends to try one out.  Nice car I said just replace the front off side wheel bearing.  How can you tell that's gone just from driving it?

 

Easy it gets louder on left hand bends as more weight goes on it, jacked it up and there was play in it.

Get it up on a lift and check for loose undertray parts or wheel arch liners. Have a good look at the voids around the radiators.  In my experience failing bearings have a continuous noise rather than a throbbing cadence.