Wobbly Noise Issue

[jri4]

I don't know a whole lot about specific little parts and vital things that make these cars roll, but I'm going to try my best and explain a little situation I've got going on in case someone can help me. Sorry, I'm wordy, so be ready to read (print it and take it in the bathroom with you if you have to):

First off, my dad drives a 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis right now... As he accelerates, the sound of something rolling, but wobbly, could be heard from one of the wheels. To create an onomatopaeia, as the wheel would turn you could hear whomp-whomp-whomp-wump. This noise would speed up or slow down with the car. He knows a little about cars, and knew it was a wheel bearing. The hardest part was figuring out which wheel. We got it figured out, changed the wheel bearing and all is good now.

Funny thing is, I think I hear the same noise in my car. I accelerate to 50+ and then put it in neutral and let the car slow down until I stop hearing the exhaust and such, and I can hear something rotating with the same whomp-whomp-whomp-wump sound. I can't tell exactly which side or wheel it is coming from, but I hear it.

Any thoughts on what it could be? My dad thinks something about CV joints, but he has never dealt with FWD before. Could it just be the wheel bearings, if the MS3 has them?

Car Details- 2008 MS3 Sport 55,000+ miles

Thanks for any help! I'll be asking another question as soon as I remember what it was...

 

[bluelion]

i'm no mechanic either, but have you checked your rotors to see if they're warped? have you had an alignment done recently? hell, it can even possibly be just that your wheels need balancing......i would check those three first since they're prolly the easiest to fix.

 

[jri4]

I don't think it is the rotors because it doesn't have that shake feeling when I hit the brakes. In fact, I don't think you can feel this, only hear the noise. An alignment is definitely needed, and I've already taken my wheels back to a local shop to have him re-balance them. He screwed 'em up pretty bad the first time so that may have something to do with it as well. As long as the wheel ain't going to fall off, I'll be okay though. It isn't that noticeable. Thanks for the help!

 

[BigDaddyMS3]

Whomp

Since you are hearing this sound when you disengage the clutch it may be your limited slip differential. Have you changed the tranny/diff fluid yet. If not, I recommend 75W-90 Motorcraft XTM5QS oil. It may make the same noise when driving around corners in a subterranean garage with the clutch engaged, (pushed to the floor). The noise echos in this kind of parking structure. That was the noise that mine made. Good luck in your diagnosis.

 

[jri4]

Nah, I hear this noise regardless of clutch or gear position... although it is easier to hear in neutral at 750 rpms than cruising in 6th at 60mph and 2100 rpms... It definitely seems to correlate with wheel speed (i.e. if the wheel begins to slow down the noise slows down, vice versa).

Does this thing even have wheel bearings or anything? If not, I am writing this off as a wheel balance/alignment issue (although I have not had uneven tire wear through 10,000 miles-rotating every 5000 miles)

 

[Addison]

All cars have wheel bearings on all of their wheels.

Same noise= same problem.

 

[Jackyll]

did you ever figure this out? I just noticed mine doing the same thing when I took a road trip the other day. Mine only has 12500 miles on it though. Going to make an appointment to bring it in this week, but was just curious if you figured it out.

 

[jri4]

No, the car still seems to make a noise indicating a bearing is going. What scares me is that it may be a wheel bearing (easy fix) or a bearing inside the transmission which would mean tearing out the tranny to fix. But I did find a good way to check wheel bearings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPe3o2Km8zY

I tried this on my car and there is absolutely no movement of the wheel. In the next couple of days I will have a fresh set of wheels balanced and mounted on the car...we will see if maybe it is just my tires (Cooper Zeon ZPT) or stock oem wheels that are the issue.

Also I have just changed the tranny fluid to the XTm5Qs and still makes the same sound.

The good news is my wheel hasn't fallen off, nor do I think I am in any danger of it doing so. If you find anything out at the dealer, please let me know! Thanks!

 

[spdjnke]

have you thought about maybe not being so technical with it? from what your description it sounds to me like you have a chopped tire, have you checked your tires? just a thought.

 

[Jackyll]

Dealership said it was due to a wheel "not spinning true" probably from hitting a pothole. Im assuming that means the wheel is bent or dented. Im probably going to try throwing my winter wheels on tomorrow and going for a drive just to make sure.

They wanted $550 for a new wheel lol... I can find a gently used set of wheels and tires for that much if I look hard enough

 

[jri4]

Yeah, I put on a set of aftermarket wheels with different tires....no more noise! But I took my aftermarket wheels to have some work done on them and the people said one was bent bad, so I wonder if that really is the issue you are having.... good luck!

 

[spdjnke]

I have a set of stockers in mint condition just chilling if ur interested in buying if that indeed is the issue.

Dealership said it was due to a wheel "not spinning true" probably from hitting a pothole. Im assuming that means the wheel is bent or dented. Im probably going to try throwing my winter wheels on tomorrow and going for a drive just to make sure.

They wanted $550 for a new wheel lol... I can find a gently used set of wheels and tires for that much if I look hard enough

 

[spdjnke]

So was right bout the tire causing noise?

Yeah, I put on a set of aftermarket wheels with different tires....no more noise! But I took my aftermarket wheels to have some work done on them and the people said one was bent bad, so I wonder if that really is the issue you are having.... good luck!

 

[Jackyll]

Just got the speed back for the 2nd time the other day because it was not a bent wheel. This time they said it was due to the tires being worn and they couldn't find anything else that would be making the noise. They asked me how often I rotate my tires, and I told them so far I've rotated them twice (car has 12,800ish miles) and I had my winter set on for about 4 months which makes it under the every 5k they told me.

However, I did rotate them again when I got home and haven't heard the noise since so go figure. I've read the stockers are noisy so maybe I'm just going to have to rotate them a little more often.

 

[aidtwo]

At about 12,000 miles with the OE Bridgestone tires, I too heard rhythmic out-of-balance tire sound ("whomp-whomp-whomp"). I mentioned it to a Mazda dealership during a service visit, they reported it was characteristic of the tire. Like the OP, these tires have been rotated every 6,000 miles (save for the winter time when dedicated winter tire/wheel set is used).

The Bridgestone tires were recently rotated again and now they are making much more rhythmic out of balance sounds. I had them reviewed by an non-dealership. They concluded it was the tires coming to the end of their life.

I plan to rotate the tires back to the original locations and hopefully the noise will subside allowing enough time to pass until the dedicated winter set can be put on. Next spring the Bridgestones will need to be replaced.