Wheels/Tyres: Droning noise - wheel bearings?

[flying.man]

Are you running Pirelli P6000 if so check how they have worn as the guy at my local independent pointed out how mine had worn & that they caused the same noise as a worn bearing (My rear shock were duff & that had been a factor of how they had worn)

[TruckbusUK]

Originally Posted by flying.man

Are you running Pirelli P6000 if so check how they have worn as the guy at my local independent pointed out how mine had worn & that they caused the same noise as a worn bearing (My rear shock were duff & that had been a factor of how they had worn)

P6000's ... you dont get them in an SUV tyre for XC90's ... do you? ... Ive run P6000's for years on several cars, inc a 850 T5 and a couple of Renaults and a Golf, but I've never seen them as a SUV rated tyre, esp on 235/60R18', squeal like a pig and wear like a soft thing, but amazing grip my opinion, but never seen them sized for an XC90 .....

[NCS XC90]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the advise,views. I'd ruled out tyres as I have recetly changed them and the noise was present before and after. I put the bearing I took of the drivers side and put it on the passenger side rear today and noise reduced to almost gone. So it looks like it was the bearing - just not the one it sounded like.
Ordering a new one to do the job properly now. With the three bearings I've had in my hand you could tell by rotating them the new, old, and shot one by the varing "grinding" feel.
Glad I know what it is now. Just 2.5hrs and cost a bearing to go to get the car fully workig again.
Neil

[Arianne]

Neil,

Is there any quicker way, based on your experience, in which you think you could identify which bearing has failed while it is still on the car?

I suspect mine will be in the garage any day soon and I really don't want them charging me huge labour costs as they work their way around all four points of the compass!

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards.

[NCS XC90]

Hi Arianne,
I'd read quite a lot on here before jumping in (and I wasn't that confident mine was a wheel bearing but it seemed the most likely based on the posts). The best I could do was determine it was a rear bearing by sitting in each seat and listening were the noise was loudest. Today however I started fitting the spacesaver wheel on each corner and test driving the car. I'm sure the sound change pitch when I had the spacer saver on that corner. This might be true as I guess some of the noise will transmit to the road tyre. Some reports on here say if you turn one way and the niose goes for a second it helps tell you which one it is but it didn't stop for me which every way I turned.
With the wheel in the air, slowing turning the wheel I also felt I could feel a bit of slight roughness. No play in the bearing as you get with classic cars (my main passion). It’s a leap of faith though to go from this to changing it as on turning the wheel you do turn the drive shaft and therefore the diff which would feel a little bit the same (turning gears). Once it was off it was obviously worse than the new (and even the first one I replaced). I would say it took me about 2 hrs in total for the second one (now I know what I'm doing).
I'm afraid it’s a bit of a leap of faith. I'm just glad it wasn't the diff although it does appear that both of my rear wheel bearings were shot to different degrees. Good luck with yours and sorry I cannot think of a definitive way to prove which one.
Neil

[Arianne]

Thanks Neil, we really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and it all helps in the end. When I take the trip to the garage and chat to the guys I will update the site with any acquired wisdom too!

Best wishes.

[joemc99]

I recently replaced both my rear bearings. A very slight drone was there for the last 6 months, most passengers were unable to hear it. Within the space of a week, it started to get very loud, so it needed doing.

I determined which bearing needed replacing by getting up to speed on an open, clear road, and turning left and right. I noticed that the noise was almost completely gone when I turned right, ie unloading he right bearing. so I replaced the right bearing, and sure enough, the loud drone was gone.....but I was left with the original quiet drone. I did the same test, and when I listened real close, I could hear it less on the left turn, so I knew this time it was the left bearing.....I have also replaced that one, so now I have quiet motoring.

[NCS XC90]

I'm left with the quiet drone so it might be ussual for the other to be on its last legs when one goes.

Just thinking it through and I guess from what I have read you can reduce the odds if you really don't knwo which one it is. From what I've read the rears are far more likely to go that the fronts. And earlier in this post it was highlighted that the passenger side (NSR) is more likely than the drivers side. So if you are stuggling to identify the area the noise is coming from the odds say start with the NSR but you may end up doing both rears.
Neil

[minstrelblue]

my 09 xc90 had an annoying droning from the rear, which is most likely caused a wheel bearing, volvo deny they have problems but it's a common issue it appears, i realised which one was gone by listening to the noise while cornering, when on a sweeping left bend the noise was still present but when i cornered to the right [and the weight went onto the left] the noise went ! and thus that's how i found out it was the left rear.. be aware that bearings should be replaced as pairs like shock absorbers..i was lucky as they were done when the warranty was just about to expire ..phew

[timh30]

Originally Posted by minstrelblue

my 09 xc90 had an annoying droning from the rear, which is most likely caused a wheel bearing, volvo deny they have problems but it's a common issue it appears, i realised which one was gone by listening to the noise while cornering, when on a sweeping left bend the noise was still present but when i cornered to the right [and the weight went onto the left] the noise went ! and thus that's how i found out it was the left rear.. be aware that bearings should be replaced as pairs like shock absorbers..i was lucky as they were done when the warranty was just about to expire ..phew

Bearings don't need to be replaced in pairs. They are somewhat different in that respect to brake and suspension components, which will alter the characteristics/cause an imbalance if only one side is replaced - that is not the case with wheel bearings.