Strange annoying noise.

[peterk007]

Hi I have recently gotten myself a very nice S40 2.0T with only 62k on it. It's a 2000 on a W reg and is an automatic. It's in VERY VERY nice order apart from said annoying noise which I think is coming from the rear. It's like a ddd ddd ddd ddd noise which is quite rapid,and constant. It doesn't get faster or slower with the acceleration/deceleration of the car and it's only happening at speeds of over 40 plus mph. I have removed rear wheels and smacked all the rust off the disc edges and pads look okay though I've not removed them to look at the inner rears. Anyone had this problem or any ideas what it could be. Thanking you in anticipation.

[madmodder]

not 100% sure but could be a wheel bearing, jack the car up and then grasp the wheel at a 12 and 6 0 clock position and again at the 9 and 3 o clock position and rock it back and forth, there should be no movment, but if it does rock then there is play in the bearing. check both sides as normally both side get changed at the same time so the other side might not be far off.

if there is no movement in the bearing then its a suspension component, get under the car a move / wiggle every bar around and look for play and wear.

[peterk007]

Hi I kind of suspected it may be a wheel bearing. I'll do as u suggested once this weather improves or maybe run it into Kwik fit and get them to diagnose it for me. Thanks for your reply. I was hoping it would be down to low brake pads as that's a whole lot cheaper than bearings. Would bearings go at 60 odd thou??

[madmodder]

Originally Posted by peterk007

Hi I kind of suspected it may be a wheel bearing. I'll do as u suggested once this weather improves or maybe run it into Kwik fit and get them to diagnose it for me. Thanks for your reply. I was hoping it would be down to low brake pads as that's a whole lot cheaper than bearings. Would bearings go at 60 odd thou??

its all depends on how the car is used, road conditions, climate. if the bearing has got to 60k with out issue i would say its had a very good innings i would expect to change a bearing around the 40k mark, this also depends on bearing manufacturer and other factors

i would get it checked sooner rather than later, if it is the bearing then it will be damaging the stub axel and carrier and that would lead to far more in repair bills

[mcouchard]

I wouldn't take it to Kwik fix mate, they will invent things wrong with it. If it is a wheel bearing you can run it until it gets worse i.e. noise gets unbearable before changing it.

[960kg]

I am sorry to disagree but a wheel bearing going on any Volvo is very very remote even at a high mileage.

The S /V40 is a lighter Volvo and the wheel bearings are sealed for the life of the car, and they they do usually reached there goal, you have to be very unlucky to have one go or even make a noise.

I replaced a rear wheel bearing on my GDI at 145,000 and after spending £80 and spoiling an afternoon the noise was still there and it was the tyres.

If you do a search you will find numerous posts where the member has changed the wheel bearings to no avail and the problem still persisted.

If a later 2004 model then maybe as they are Ford induced and want your money but definately not before that date.

As said check all other avenues before you do the bearing and you don`t have to do both sides.

Our models are terrible for tyre noise, you have to have directional ones for the best quiet performance. If they are block tread then look nowhere else, try moving the wheels around the car and see what happens.

[pphilpot]

Originally Posted by madmodder

i would expect to change a bearing around the 40k mark

Really? I'm not doubting you, but that seems really really really short.

[madmodder]

Originally Posted by pphilpot

Really? I'm not doubting you, but that seems really really really short.

some times they last some times they dont, its not something you can realy put a time factor on, its just one of them parts that only gets changed when they need doing.

960 knowing volvo's a little better than me might be on to something so thats also worth a check.

[960kg]

Originally Posted by madmodder

some times they last some times they dont, its not something you can realy put a time factor on, its just one of them parts that only gets changed when they need doing.

960 knowing volvo's a little better than me might be on to something so thats also worth a check.

When i bought the GDI, the test drive automatically suggested to me wheel bearing was the noise from the back of the car as it sounded just like my Mini Cooper days with wheel spacers they knock your bearings out in a couple of thousand miles. But it was tyres after spending out on the bearing.

Moving to Volvo`s, the engineering and quality of parts is second to none but after the merge of the companies anything goes, my 2001 1.8 is no exception, a really horrid little motor. My old relic of a ``97 V70 is completely another story.

[skyship007]

I have to agree with 960kg that the chances of this being a wheel bearing are slim. Sounds more like bad discs or tyres, sometimes you can get a nasty vibration just from a disc/pad problem even though they look OK. A problem with the suspension should be easy to see by checking for play or bad bushes, but sometimes bad tyres seem to produce similar symptoms to bad discs. As 960kg says if you change the tyres around it should reveal if they are at fault or the discs.
I am just about to change from winter to summer tyres, my front pads are nearly due and my rear discs are poor, although everything was perfect at high speed before the winter when my tyres were balanced I just noticed a slight wheel wobble at 140 kmph through the steering and a definite vibration that starts at the same speed from the rear wheels, so I am just getting the parts to change all the discs and pads when I change to summer tyres in a few weeks time. I suspect the worn winter ones (Down to 2mm in places!) are out of balance, BUT I also think the rear wheel vibration could be the discs as they are rather wavy, so the whole lot are heading for the bin. If in doubt do get an MOT standard inspector to check things out.