Front end rumbling noise

[markyc100]

Hi all,

I have a constant rumbling noise coming from the front end, it's not a creaking,clonking noise. It is slightly worse when going over bumps. I have had it in at the garage but they say all the bushes etc are all tight.
Any ideas?

[Father Ted]

Sounds like wheel bearing to me.Have they been checked?

[aland]

Is the rumbling noise frequency or loudness proportional to road speed?

[markyc100]

I have not had the wheel bearing's checked. The noise stays the same at any speed, I've had a good look under the car for anything loose but can't see anything. It doesn't sound like a typical wheel bearing groan

[oragex]

I'd first look at the front tires: how smooth is the rubber surface, do they have uniform wear? Then turn the wheels and inspect the rear bush on the wishbone. When the wishbone is worn, the tire may not roll straight and make noise, in addition with 'scratched' surface wear.

If the wishbone checks fine, it may be the wheel bearing. With the axle removed and the brake disc out, just before undoing the four bolts of the bearing, give it a turn by hand: if it feels smooth with very little or no roughness, it is still good. I'd always do this test because you never know which bearing is bad

[markyc100]

Will the wheel bearings make a clunking/ rumbling noise? The tyre wear on both sides look normal. I haven't checked the wheel bearings as yet. Do I need to pop the drive shaft to do this?

[60041]

The n/s/f wheel bearing on my car started to get very noisy a couple of years ago. It initially sounded like road noise, as a faint drone at certain speeds, then very gradually developed into a more consistent drone / rumble that could be heard at any speed over 30mph; the normal check of steering the car from side to side to check which bearing had failed did not work and it was difficult to determine which side was noisy. I tried to check for movement in the bearing several times, but could never feel any.
Eventually, I took the plunge and guessed which one to change.
When I got the old bearing off, I pulled it to bits and found that the problem was that the seal had allowed water into the bearing and it had become pitted, making it noisy: there was no discernible wear.
Replacement was not difficult and the whole job took less than an hour and a half to do.
If you do decide to change your bearings, it is worth buying a couple of ABS reluctor rings and replacing them at the same time - the ones on my car were in a very poor state and new ones are only £5 or 6 each from GSF.

[Das boot]

If it’s wheel bearings the noise usually changes tone slightly as you turn left and right on a winding road at speed , the car means harder on each bearing as you turn . It also transfers its weight from the inner to the outer bearing race in each hub so the sound changes a little , if it isnt doing this it’s probably not wheel bearings or the wear isn’t significant enough yet to show up .

Best way to check is to disengage drive at about forty or fifty miles an hour and gently swerve left and right on a quiet road , if the note alters it’s usually your bearings.

[markyc100]

Thanks, it doesn't seem to be awheel bearing noise, more a constant rumble/ clonk which is worse over rougher surfaces. Would a worn upper suspension strut mount cause this?