Cooing Noise

[volvo always]

I have a 1996 940 estate and the last week I have a cooing/ pigeon type noise coming from what seems to be the nearside front. It is speed related and noticeable up to 30mph.

The front discs and pads are 8 months old but have started to squeak a bit lately when worked hard ie 30 mile journey.

I think I'll take the tyre off and have a look. Any ideas on what else to look for?

James

[Chooch84]

Are the disc back plates/"splash" plates okay?

[volvo always]

Originally Posted by Chooch84

Are the disc back plates/"splash" plates okay?

I'll have a look tomorrow as a Volvo specialist replaced the front disks and pads.

James

[aardvarkash10]

possibly a pigeon is wedged in the air filter intake?

[TLPower]

The Dove from above?

[aardvarkash10]

Originally Posted by TLPower

The Dove from above?

Shooting for the stars with that one

[Sysyphus]

Originally Posted by aardvarkash10

possibly a pigeon is wedged in the air filter intake?

... and all day yesterday I totally resisted the temptation to reply “a nest”

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by volvo always

Any ideas on what else to look for?

James

Feathers!

You say it happens up to about 30mph, is it still there above that speed and you just can't hear it because of other things like road/wind noise, the radio etc?

You'll probably need to get a willing victim to sit in the passenger seat and listen while you drive for this one - if you can't hear it above 30mph it won't be much of a test without a second set of ears!

It sounds liek you may have a wheel bearing problem coming, the fact it's road speed related points more to that than anything else. If it was the brakes it would be more of a squeal usually or a grinding noise.

If i can find it i've got some lovely pictures of a nesting bird under the bonnet of a car i broke some years back including if memory serves of the mother with the fledglings. The bird totally didn't care, it had seen me open the bonnet, see the nest was there and put the bonnet down gently knowing i meant no harm so obviously felt safe there.

[volvo always]

I thought the description may get you going

Nope no nest or feathers!

There are no backing plates. The noise is as you say probably still there except I can't hear it above 30mph due to other noise.

I Jacked the wheel up and spun it and gave it a tug from side to side rocking it and there is slight play. I took the wheel off and the brakes look fine. I spun the hub and there is a slight noise as you spin it but couldn't hear where from. Made the noise like something else was moving and seemed to do at the same time each turn. I thought it could be a pad touching the disk though as lately my brakes do squeal. Must be 10mm on the pads still.

The bushes could all do with changing as cracking on outer edges, very much so the little connecting rod with bushes either end, droplinks?

My guess is sticking brake pad or worn bearing. The side where the noise seems to be coming from had a replacement caliper as old one was seized. The caliper looks like they are held on with 2 allen key bolts. I may take the caliper off and see if the noise is there to eliminate the brake pads.

James

[Laird Scooby]

You should be able to get away with just undoing one of those cap-screws (Socket headed bolts for an Allen key) and swinging the caliper upwards so you can then slide the pads out or even just move them away from the disc.
From the sound of what you've just described i'd almost certainly say wheel bearing though.

Got one gone on my 827 Coupé, it started as a low pitched hum from about 30mph onwards and i thought at first it was the air-con compressor clutch bearing (my other 827 has a noisy one of those) until irealised i didn't have the A/C running. As the journey continued, it got louder, earlier and higher in pitch so i can definitely hear it below 30mph now and above that it sounds like the result of a breeding program between a banshee and a pig with his Jacobs in a meat grinder!

They're easier to change on the Volvo though! The hard part is working out which sort you have, some early ones can be cleaned, regreased and adjusted, the rest are renew only but fairly straightforward to do. Ebay will be your best friend in terms of price once you work out which sort you have, look for NOS/Clearance as you might get a nice deal. When i had to do mine i found a pair of NOS bearings for £2.99 each but the P&P was a tenner each and the seller wouldn't combine the postage. At that price i didn't complain too loudly though!