"Noise" from front of car - especially downhill

[Darealspoon]

It's really hard to describe a noise! Anyway, our skoda superb greenline 3 had a rythmic noise which sounded like it was coming from front right. It sped up and down along with the cars speed, if that makes sense. 

 

First thing I had checked was tyres, tracking and balancing... All good. 

 

Next took it to our local indy vag specialists. They reckoned it was the wheel bearing so changed it for us, which wasn't exactly cheap... But I don't doubt them when they said it needed doing. We've been going there years and we have a good relationship with them. 

 

Now, admittedly the noise is nowhere near as bad/loud and now only seems audible when going downhill... Buut its still there! 

 

I'm just wondering whether I should direct them to anything specifically? 

 

I'm pretty sure it's not a CV joint, I know what that sounds like, and this noise is more low thuddy than a true knock. 

Edited 23 January by Darealspoon

[AGFalco]

Swap the tyres / wheels from side to side, not front to back.

 

Don't do this if you have directional tyres though.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

[Darealspoon]

I had the front tyres changed, balanced and laser aligned... Would that not have picked up any issue with wheel/tyres? 

[Paws4Thot]

19 hours ago, Darealspoon said:

I had the front tyres changed, balanced and laser aligned... Would that not have picked up any issue with wheel/tyres? 

I know you said "noise from front right", but this sort of noise is much more likely to come from the rear tyres sawtoothing. Try swapping the rear tyres side to side and see if the noise is reduced or eliminated.

[Darealspoon]

3 hours ago, Paws4Thot said:

I know you said "noise from front right", but this sort of noise is much more likely to come from the rear tyres sawtoothing. Try swapping the rear tyres side to side and see if the noise is reduced or eliminated.

 

I should probably have been a bit clearer. I had new tyres put on the front as they were down to 2mm. At the same time all 4 wheels were checked balanced and 4-point laser aligned. Wouldn't that detect sawtoothing of the rears? 

 

Just seems a bit strange that the new wheel bearing made the noise mostly go away except on downhills. 

[AGFalco]

33 minutes ago, Darealspoon said:

Wouldn't that detect sawtoothing of the rears? 

Only if they new what to look / feel for and told you.

 

Had a Mazda in last week where the dealer had fitted a new genuine rear diff ( at vast expense to the customer ) to sort out a noise.

No improvement after that but swapping the wheels / tyres did help.

 

33 minutes ago, Darealspoon said:

I had new tyres put on the front

Swap them to the rear and if possible swap the fronts diagonally.

 

 

 

33 minutes ago, Darealspoon said:

wheel bearing made the noise mostly go away except on downhills

Don't assume you had only one problem - source of noise.

 

Thanks.  AG Falco