Tyre Noise - Not Wheel Bearing Noise

[Frankenstrat]

My Golf has started developing wheel bearing noise (approx 48,000km odo reading), I think it's coming from the rear driver's side.

1) How can I check for worn wheel bearings with the car stationary?
2) Is this a warranty repair?
3) If so, do I have to take it back to where I bought the car (Wangarra VW) or can I take to the closest VW dealer to me (JH, VP)

[Umai Naa!!]

You would need to jack that corner of the car up, and rotate the wheel by hand. You'd hear a very similar noise to what you'd hear in the car as you'd drive. You also may feel some freeplay in the hub.

Also, check that your tyres aren't scalloped (extreme feathering). This is common with the Bridgestones. This could be the noise you're hearing.

[MkVIGTI]

You can go to any VW dealer for warranty work, no need to go back to where you bought it from.

[Frankenstrat]

Thanks boys, I appreciate the replies. The tyres aren't Bridgestones, they're Pirelli 205/55 R16, they're noisy at the best of times but they're grippy enough.

I do happen to have an old stethoscope tucked away in the house somewhere, so I might hold it to each wheel as I spin them in turn. That should pinpoint the errant bearing. I'll report back with the eventual outcome.

[jacs]

My Golf has started developing wheel bearing noise (approx 48,000km odo reading), I think it's coming from the rear driver's side.

1) How can I check for worn wheel bearings with the car stationary?
2) Is this a warranty repair?
3) If so, do I have to take it back to where I bought the car (Wangarra VW) or can I take to the closest VW dealer to me (JH, VP)

Hi, my daughters Corolla developed a noise in the rear which i swore was wheel bearing noise. To cut a long story short, we ended up changing the rear tyres (after one was damaged in an accident) and noise gone ! The original sp300e dunlops that became noisy still had at least 60% tread on them and appeared perfectly/evenly worn

[rossw]

A flat spotted or out of balance tyre will often sound like a worn wheel bearing.

[Frankenstrat]

To the best of my knowledge, the tyres don't have flat-spots nor have they been damaged. However, this weekend I shall jack her up and check each wheel in turn for free-play and listen with the stethoscope as I rotate each wheel in turn. I hope it IS just an out-of-balance tyre, that's an easy fix and I won't have to take any time off work.

[Steveo]

As Umai Naa!! says it could be the tyres. My Bridgestones are feathered and it really sounds like the bearings are gone. Had exactly this problem with a previous car (and Bridgestones) so I got the dealer to check during a service. Not a bearing problem.

Replaced the tyres and suddenly the "bearing" noise disappeared.

[Frankenstrat]

I jacked up the car on the weekend and checked each wheel in turn, there was no discernable noise coming from the hubs. I put my fingers on the coil springs too as I turned each of the wheels to see if I could feel any roughness, but no. I'm thinking you may be right that it's the tyres not the bearings. I did noticed an indication of scrubbing on the inside of the rear driver's side tyre. The stethoscope trick didn't work though, too much noise from the VW logo in the centre of the wheel as it turned.

I'll rotate the tyres next weekend to see if the noise abates.

[khamtran]

I had a similar problem with my Golf which I also thought could be bearing related. People suggested my tyres (Bridgestone RE050 Potenzas) could be scalloped and after taking it into VW South Yarra and then Beaurepaires this was confirmed. All 4 tyres were affected and the sad thing is the car had only done 20,000km at that point (with one tyre rotation during that time).

I ended up replacing all 4 tyres and the car was quiet again. I was told my enthusiastic cornering was the likely cause of the problem so now I don't take corners as hard. My replacement set of Goodyear Assurance AGs have done 25,000 km and are still quiet.