Whirring Noise While Driving - Wheel Bearings?

[pixel8r]

Recently I've had my M35 in at Nissan for a service and I mentioned that I thought the front wheel bearings may need replacing. I thought just the front right needed doing but Nissan told me that both front ones would need replacing. At $260 a side plus fitting, they're not cheap - so I want to be as sure as possible before getting these fixed.

Basically the noise has been getting slowly worse over the last few months - and is now audible at all speeds unless there is significant wind noise or something. It sounds basically like excessive road noise but gets sort of higher pitched the faster I go and is quite low pitched when driving slowly. The pitch goes up/down with vehicle speed, and is unrelated to revs or throttle. ie. Putting it in neutral and letting it roll makes no difference, and also there is no difference when coasting or under heavy throttle or even braking - it seems to only be related to how fast the car is moving.

However a couple of people have told me that it wouldn't be wheel bearings since the car has only done 92000km. I just cant think of anything else it would be.

If you've had your wheel bearings replaced, what did it sound like? Is it unusual for them to need replacing as low as 92000km?

Just dont wanna spend ~$600 getting them fixed if its not the problem...

[iamhe77]

Yep.

Had my front passenger bearing assembly replaced at about 86,000k.

Sounded much like what you are describing here... Very embarrassing in pear hour traffic!

Took it in to Nissan (Ferntree Gully) and Christmas time, they diagnosed it straight away and ordered the part from Japan.

10 days (not business days) later it was installed.

They had to make "a special tool" to get it on as it is "different" to any Aus delivered cars (what a surprise!).

btw, the front wheel bearing assembly was $211 delivered from Japan.

I was mistakingly quoted this as the install price, which they honored.

[AndyD]

I am having this exact same prob with my S2 passenger side rear after getting a flat tyre and using the space saver. Any idea on how much and where i can get a rear set from.

[pixel8r]

Well I finally got to the bottom of the whirring noise problem.

Turns out it IS actually just tyre noise, but the reason its louder than normal is becuase the tyres are wearing in such a way that its leaving a lot of sharp edges of rubber, particularly on the inside edge of the tyre. First I had the front passenger wheel off and had the space saver tyre on, and there wasn't much change, but then I switched the front right tyre with the space saver and it was a lot quieter. Both right and left tyres are wearing in a similar way - but the direction of the tread means that the sharp edges are creating a "lip" that faces the front of the car on the top of the tyre - kind of like this /| /| /| all the way round the tyre. Both tyres contribute to the noise, but its mostly the right tyre.

What it essentially means is that my wheel bearings are fine (phew) and that I can either put up with the noise, or just pay for new tyres. I'll probably just be putting up with it for now. We swapped the rear & front tyres (leaving each tyre on the same side as it was on) and this has made a small but noticeable improvement, and will even out the wear as well.

For anyone interested, the tyres I have are Firenza's (www.sumotire.com). Wont be getting those again.

[zei20l]

wheel alignment time? hopefully it was done when you purchased new tyres.

[Daleo]

Definitely check alignment, but I drove a Liberty with Firenza's a couple of weeks ago, noisiest tyres I've ever heard even BF Goodrich Mud Terrains...

[StageaM35]

I've notice I have a dull 'bonk' noise coming from the front of my car over general bumps as well as soft 'creeking' noise from the steering rack when rotating the wheel at low speed (parking etc). Had the guy doing my exhaust have a look at the bushings and ball joints, can't pick anything. Possible shocks need replacing? There is a lot under these things so I may take it to a suspension shop to see if they can run a test on one of those machines that emulate road conditions.

What areas of the M35 fail in the front suspension so I can have a nose around when still up on the hoist tomorrow?

Cheers,

Rhys

Edited May 4, 2009 by StageaM35

[zei20l]

yeah its probably tires shocks, mine does it too. and possibly the bush at the top of the strut too.

[pixel8r]

wheel alignment time? hopefully it was done when you purchased new tyres.

I honestly have no idea what was done - tyres were new from compliance. they would have to have done an alignment then but i have no paperwork other than an invoice. finding out anything else required specifically asking about each thing and the compliance place really didn't like me calling for stuff like that.

Still, I'm pretty sure it had an alignment done at compliance...I think its just maybe gone a little out of whack since. Will get another one done when I get the chance.

[zei20l]

my guess they didnt do it. compliance places (no offence to any on here) will do things as cheaply as possible. its called business.

maybe get it done again, $60 for a 4 wheel alignment is cheaper than a few tyres