Rear wheel noise?

Rear wheel noise?

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tigger1

Original Poster:

8,402 posts

222 months

Friday 19th January 2007
quotequote all
Posting for a friend. Owns a mini one (52 plate).

When driving, there's a low humming noise, sounds like it's coming from a rear wheel - not a knocking as such, more a hum, but significantly louder on one side.

Any suggestions? Wheel nuts are tight, and can't see anything rubbing. And it's louder with speed, but silent when revving stationary (so not exhaust noise).

Thanks.

james f

841 posts

214 months

Friday 19th January 2007
quotequote all
could be the wheel bearing as these have a nice habit of going

jamiebae

6,245 posts

212 months

Friday 19th January 2007
quotequote all
Mine (55 reg) has similar symptoms, but the garage have just told me it's fine and nothing is wrong with it, they checked it at the 25k service.

blackspider

1,038 posts

210 months

Friday 19th January 2007
quotequote all
The biggest problem we have humming from the wheels is runflat tyres.
Because the side walls are so stiff it causes an odd wear pattern.What you will find is the inner and outer edges of the tyre tread have worn into steps.

If you go down to eye level with the tyre and look across the tyre(outside to inside)you will see sections of the tread raised at the front.When this comes into contact with the road it acts like a paddle and slaps the floor-speed this up and it becomes a rumble and then a hum exactly the same as a wheel bearing.Really noticable when braking from speed.The '55 plate will almost certainly be this if they have told you there is nothing wrong.

Nothing you can do about this apart from replacing the tyres when they have worn out.

We do also get a few genuine wheel bearing failures although few and far between and mainly on the early ones(51-53).

For piece of mind it is worth jacking the car up(and axle stands)or putting it on a ramp and checking the wheel bearings for failure.Good time to look at the tyres too.

tigger1

Original Poster:

8,402 posts

222 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2007
quotequote all
She took it onto a garage, bearing. Needs a full assembly though, so she was told, as they can't buy just hte bearing - which sounds like a BMW-esque pee-take to me.

james f

841 posts

214 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2007
quotequote all
i think it is bmw pee pee taking but if its under warrnty and your not paying let them otherwise i will ask someone i know who used to work as a mini service tech for you