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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Humming noise
        
(Message started by: exucasvu on Feb 11^th, 2019, 7:53am)

Title: Humming noise
Post by exucasvu on Feb 11^th, 2019, 7:53am

Hi all,
My 1997 2.3 Ulitma has developed a curious low humming noise somewhere towards the rear. No problems with the gearbox and one could put it down to tyres except they are fairly new. Noise decreases when decelerating. Could it be a rear wheel bearing? Anyone have any advice which would be much appreciated.

Title: Re: Humming noise
Post by Tompion on Feb 11^th, 2019, 12:49pm

A rear wheel bearing is quite likely and needs investigating as bearing failure can be quite dramatic.
If it is a bearing the longer you leave it the greater the chance of hub damage. Any scuffing of the hub due to the inner bearing track turning & the hub is probably scrap. New hubs are over £200 & you're unlikely to find a good second hand one.
You could try checking the tightness of the hub nuts which should be very tight - torque can be found on the site. In my view a loose nut is a sign of a problem that needs investigating - just tightening is not an option.

Title: Re: Humming noise
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Feb 11^th, 2019, 12:51pm

Could well be a warning of a failing wheel bearing.
Get it checked asap as they can fail catastrophically.
If you want to check it yourself, raise one side of the rear of the car up as you would for changing a wheel - use axle stands or similar for safety, chock the other side to stop the car from moving as you will need to release the handbrake. Then turn the raised wheel by hand and check for any roughness or noise as you rotate it. Also hold the wheel at the 9 & 3 position and rock the wheel from side to side, then repeat at the 12 & 6 position and rock the wheel up and down to check for any excessive movement. Then repeat for the other side.

Not a difficult job to replace a rear wheel bearing but you will need a big socket and breaker bar for the large hub nut and a large torque wrench for re-tightening the hub nut. Probably worth investing in a new replacement hub nut if you change the wheel bearing - this does not normally come in the replacement wheel bearing kit.

Title: Re: Humming noise
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Feb 11^th, 2019, 12:55pm

on 02/11/19 at 12:49:11, Tompion wrote:

Just beat me to it there !
Good point about the bearing failing and wrecking the hub - this happened to my Scorpio several years ago - fortunately I had a spare in my stash.

Title: Re: Humming noise
Post by Tompion on Feb 11^th, 2019, 1:59pm

on 02/11/19 at 12:55:57, Scorpio_Mike wrote:

fortunately I had a spare in my stash.

Fortunately more than one in your stash as I had one from you a couple of years ago :)

Title: Re: Humming noise
Post by Technology2005 on Feb 15^th, 2019, 8:32pm

More than two in his stash as I've had one from Mike too ;D

Title: Re: Humming noise
Post by exucasvu on Feb 17^th, 2019, 8:25am

Thanks for the advice. It is a wheel bearing and is being replaced as I type! I too had to replace the hub when a similar bearing failed on my earlier saloon. Not cheap!

Title: Re: Humming noise
Post by Simmo on Feb 17^th, 2019, 10:42am

Remember to check the nut for correct torque after about a hundred miles. You will need the correct gear to do so but it is sound advice. More than one has been found to have slackened off. :)

Title: Re: Humming noise
Post by Snoopy on Feb 18^th, 2019, 7:17am

The use of the STRONG thread lock is of great help. I lost two hubs with them slackening off after being replaced. A very expensive lesson.