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Noises

Humming or droning noise that changes with speed

Noises that follow road speed rather than engine speed usually come from wheels, bearings or tyres. Whether it changes on a bend is the key test.

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Symptoms drivers describe

  • A hum or drone building with speed
  • Noise louder when cornering one way and quieter the other
  • A rumble felt through the floor or seat
  • Uneven or scalloped tyre wear

Possible causes

  • A worn wheel bearing
  • Tyre wear patterns or an aggressive tyre tread
  • Uneven wear caused by misaligned suspension
  • A binding brake heating one hub
  • Driveshaft or CV joint wear in some cases

What you can do

  • Note whether the noise changes when you steer left and right
  • Mention any recent tyre changes
  • Have it checked before a long journey

How we check it in the workshop

We road test to identify which corner and whether the noise follows road speed, then check bearings for play and roughness on the lift, along with tyres and brakes.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Book it in. A badly worn bearing can seize or cause enough play to be dangerous.

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Related repairs

How we can help

Wheel Bearing ReplacementA failing wheel bearing usually announces itself as a hum or drone that rises with road speed and changes as you steer.Read more Suspension Repairs in IverSuspension wear creeps up on you. Most owners only realise how bad it had become once the car has been put right.Read more Driveshaft & CV Joint RepairsA click on full lock is the classic CV joint warning. Caught early, it is often just a boot and grease job rather than a shaft.Read more

Noises

Other symptoms in this group

Clicking or knocking noise when turningA click that appears on lock and speeds up as the wheels turn faster is typically driveshaft related rather than a suspension knock.Read more Rattling noise on start-up that goes awayA short rattle from cold that clears once oil pressure builds is a common early warning. Ignoring it can turn a chain job into an engine job.Read more Whining noise when acceleratingThe useful question is whether the whine follows engine revs or road speed, because that separates belt and turbo noises from gearbox and differential noises.Read more Wheel bearing noise: what it sounds likeBearing noise follows road speed, not engine speed, and typically changes as weight moves across the car on a bend.Read more Rattling noise from under the carRattles are located by loading and tapping components with the car on a lift, because a loose shield can sound exactly like something far more serious.Read more Exhaust blowing noiseA blowing exhaust changes the sound of the car and can affect emissions readings and sensor behaviour as well as noise.Read more

Want this looked at properly?

Send us your registration and describe the symptoms — we will tell you what the next step is.

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