XC90: Strange whirring rumbling noise when at speed

[Rweldon]

Hi guys & gals. I am very, very, very new to this group, so please forgive me if this has been asked elsewhere in the past.

I own XC90 2010 2.4 Exec just hit the 90K mark, and in the last few weeks started to notice a very strange noise which is hard to describe. When I get up to 40-70mph there is a distinctive noise coming from the front end of the car and makes a kind of whirring/thudding sound (especially on the motorway), it is definitely getting louder or so it feels that way, not deafening but very noticeable. There is no noise when turning the wheel and there is no vibration coming through the car/steering wheel when driving, I don't think it's bearing related & the front tyres are only 6m old, so no bald patches etc to suggest wheel issues (however could be wrong).

Before I head down to the garage I would love to be able to say "OK Mr Mechanic what I need sorting please is .......", rather than rock up and say "Good day Mr Mechanic, please can you look at my car, it's making a noise that doesn't sound right, please can you fix it, oh and here are my bank details £££ please leave me enough for milk".
I have tried recording the noise, but to no avail. I am not mechanically minded kind of bloke, so don't really know the difference between and push rod and a flux capacitor
Any pearls of wisdom will be gratefully received?
Thanks Rob

[colinbos]

I would say bearing, because it happens at a set speed. I had a rear bearing that was silent when rotated on the drive, and GOOSED when it took it off.

But you will never know until you get under it, take it apart or pay a mechanic to....

[green van man]

It could well be wheel bearing.
I have had them give a rhythmic thump as if the race was pitted from standing to howling like a banshee yet no discernable rock in the wheel.
Could also be tyre noise.
I have known some to give very weird noises dependant on wear and pressure. Try increasing or decreasing the pressure to see if it makes any difference, or swapping front and back tyres.
Once a wear pattern establishes itself in a tyre, for whatever reason it can cause all sorts of noise.

To check the bearings you really need to remove any drag from the wheel. I usually remove the brake pads or and on the landrover remove the drive flange so the wheel can rotate freely, spin it and it's surprising the noise you hear compared to with the brakes slowing the wheel.
The tyres you can play with easily, changing pressure and swaping front to back if you are confident about changing a wheel.

Paul.

[1monkey600]

Check the undertray.

There could be some fixings missing or broken - you can often see them flapping away under the front of cars on the motorway.

[60041]

I have just changed the n/s front wheel bearing on my car - it was making exactly the noise described. There was no detectable play at the wheel.
The only problem is that now I have quietened the front down, I can hear that I have a rear bearing starting to rumble!

[Rweldon]

Thanks 60041, out of interest and please feel free to ignore, but how much did it cost to get the front bearings replaced? Gives me a benchmark when enquiring with local garages?
Thanks,
Rob

[60041]

I did the job myself, so Labour was free; it took me about an hour to do and was not difficult.
I paid just over £140 for an SKF bearing from my local Motor Factor, but have since found out that I could have got one from Autodoc for £116: I have no idea how much a Volvo one would cost and dread to think!
SKF are high quality parts that match the original quality, as are FAG and Bilstein; do not be tempted to buy some of the very cheap unbranded or Chinese parts that are available from well known auction sites.

[MikeGMT]

Originally Posted by 60041

I paid just over £140 for an SKF bearing from my local Motor Factor, but have since found out that I could have got one from Autodoc for £116: I have no idea how much a Volvo one would cost and dread to think!
SKF are high quality parts that match the original quality, as are FAG and Bilstein; do not be tempted to buy some of the very cheap unbranded or Chinese parts that are available from well known auction sites.

SKF, the origins of Volvo and where Volvo was born, in fact was part of the same company until 1935. Hence the Volvo name, Latin ' I Roll', all because of a humble bearing.
Thought it might be of interest, but probably knew that already.

[S60RDesign]

Originally Posted by Rweldon

Thanks 60041, out of interest and please feel free to ignore, but how much did it cost to get the front bearings replaced? Gives me a benchmark when enquiring with local garages?
Thanks,
Rob

One of mine went last month - £355 for an S60 wheel hub fitted at a Volvo workshop

[Rweldon]

Hi everyone thanks for your responses, thought I would feedback the resolution. The noise and issue was down to my front wheel bearings, I managed to get both front wheel bearings replaced over the week-end, and the car feels and sounds so much better. Both fronts cost me £410 inc VAT fitted at my house, they were surprisingly big lumps of metal, I didn't have the opportunity to ring different garages to get price comparisons, but happy with the end result although the wallet is much, much lighter !! But as we all know and love, owning a XC90 is always going to on the pricey side....
Thanks again,
Rob