"Funny noise" issue seemingly from front tyre area

[TVRrs]

Hi folks,

Been a while since I've posted here. I saw a couple of you in Newton Abbot last weekend for the classic car exhibition and have been doing my merry waving to other Tuscan drivers I see on my travels.

Sadly I'm starting to hear a rather unpleasant noise coming from under the car. The best way of describing it is a dull rhythmic noise, like the sort of noise you'd expect to hear if there was a loose mudflap contacting with a tyre -- the faster the car goes, the faster the noise gets. The slower the car goes, the slower it gets. I've driven at around 20mph with my foot on the clutch to see if it's the engine, but the noise doesn't stop. The noise doesn't occur when stationary and revving the engine (gently!). It's definitely a moving noise. The ride doesn't seem to be affected.

I've had a good look under the main bonnet, hugged all the tyres and checked their pressures, poked and prodded at calipers and discs and what not...nothing out of the ordinary and seemingly no contact is being made with the tyres from anything I can see, touch or feel. It's very hard to place the noise but it's somewhere towards the front of the vehicle, near one of the two front tyres.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever experienced this, heard anything like this or has any hints or clues as to places I can check? Failing that; what next? Racing Green is about 40 miles away (I'm in Reading) but I wouldn't want to drive the car that distance. Anyone near Reading able to recommend anyone I can take it to and have it checked out?

Thanks in advance.

[nrick]

Have you checked the wheel bearings? Sticky caliper ?

[canski]

Speak to Jason at Str8six they are closer to you than RG

[Barkychoc]

If its a 'woo woo woo woo' noise it can just be tyre noise - had it on a couple of cars like a wheel bearing noise but new tyres cured it. Might be worth getting tracking / geometry checked.

[DonkeyApple]

Are there gaters on Tivs? I'm having a mental blind spot but flapping rubber that changes on speed and is constant reminds me of a torn gater.

[TVRrs]

Just to follow up on this, I had the car picked up by Str8six on Monday (£50 to have it picked up and brought back to me from Reading to Oxford and back, bargain). Just gave them a call and they told me the wheel was loose and "a few more miles and it would have come off". Oh my.

Needless to say I'm very glad I decided not to drive it up to Oxford

Edited by TVRrs on Thursday 8th September 22:54

[blueg33]

Blueg33 sets a reminder on his Blackberry, to check wheel nuts across the household fleet (they have all had tyres recently)

[swisstoni]

TVRrs said:

Just to follow up on this, I had the car picked up by Str8six on Monday (£50 to have it picked up and brought back to me from Reading to Oxford and back, bargain). Just gave them a call and they told me the wheel was loose and "a few more miles and it would have come off". Oh my.

Needless to say I'm very glad I decided not to drive it up to Oxford

Edited by TVRrs on Thursday 8th September 22:54

Refreshing to see a solution posted and glad you got it sorted.

Its frustrating to follow some threads on here and there's no solution ever posted.