• Welcome to the Contour Enthusiasts Group, the best resource for the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique.

    You can register to join the community.

Whirring noise

H

hotdimmes

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Dec 26, 2003
Messages
4,112
Location
New Britain, CT
I've recently noticed (and I think it's actually been going on for a few months) that when I'm driving on the highway, I have a pretty loud whirring noise (like whir-whir-whir-whir-whir-whir-etc.) Seems to be coming from the front right side although I'm not 100% sure on that. It's frequency increases as my velocity increases. Also, it seems to go away when I turn even the slightest bit to the left but comes back when driving straight or turning to the right. No abnormal vibrations that I can tell. I'm thinking wheel bearing but I just wanted to see if anyone had any other suggestions before I start digging in.
 
hotdimmes said:
I've recently noticed (and I think it's actually been going on for a few months) that when I'm driving on the highway, I have a pretty loud whirring noise (like whir-whir-whir-whir-whir-whir-etc.) Seems to be coming from the front right side although I'm not 100% sure on that. It's frequency increases as my velocity increases. Also, it seems to go away when I turn even the slightest bit to the left but comes back when driving straight or turning to the right. No abnormal vibrations that I can tell. I'm thinking wheel bearing but I just wanted to see if anyone had any other suggestions before I start digging in.
Click to expand...

I would check the dust shield behind the brake rotor to see if it's bent. If it is, it could be rubbing on the rotor giving you the speed-sensitive sound you describe.
 
when was the last time an alignment was done? it could be the alignment but a wheel bearing is what is sounds like.
 
BrApple said:
when was the last time an alignment was done? it could be the alignment but a wheel bearing is what is sounds like.
Click to expand...

around a year and a half to two years ago on the alignment. I'm getting another one done after I do my rear subframe swap which should be soon :laugh:
 
ok soooo

Per discussions in a another thread, I concluded that when I turn left, my whirring noise goes away implying that it is the driver's side wheel bearing. Replaced the driver's side wheel bearing, still the same symptoms. I also replaced pass. inner and outer tie rods, and pass. lca if that is at all relevant.

The sound now goes away much sooner when turning to the left than it used to. But still remains when driving straight and turning to the right.

Even tough it goes away when I turn left, is it still possible to be the passenger side wheel bearing?

I was really under the impression that when you are turning left, you are loading the right wheel and that is what makes the noise go away.
 
As per that other discussion, We stated that loading a bad wheel will normally make it worse.. unloading it will ease the sound.

HOWEVER: I also stated the methods to test the bearing as well because it WAS possible to have noise on a bad side not be affected by loading, etc.

Did you do the o'clock test before replacing it? What about the passenger side o'clock test?
 
eh we kinda did the oclock test but since I was confident it was the driver's side, we kinda just went for it. I'm not upset about it, it's good preventative maintanence :cool: I just wanted to verify that it could indeed still be the pass. side bearing or possibly something else that I'm overlooking. I don't think it's the wheels/tires since it was like that with my summer wheels/tires and nothing changed when I switched to the winter set.
 
It could certainly be other things, sure! You're right about prev. maint. Its always a positive way to look at things.

Now, as for other causes, it could be a balance issue. When you switched to your winter set did you also switch rims???

Try rotating your tires (if directional, stay on the same side!!! lol) and see if the noise moves. Its been seen before.
 
It could be a CV joint in the VERY early stages of failure.. but typically the symptoms are more of a clicking/popping and can be aggravated by acceleration or turning (loading the joint) but should either decrease or stop upon unloading of the joint.

Not "likely" to be your problem, but just tossing it out there

edit: have you checked your lugs to make sure they are tight? a loose lug(s) can cause whirring and slight vibrations...
 
I appreciate the help/info. Anyone know if local places stock axle/spindle nuts for our car? Rockauto has them for $3 plus 15 dollars shipping! sheesh!

Also, I'm in desperate need of an alignment but probably won't get to the pass. hub/bearing replacement for a couple of days. Assuming I get an alignment before then, removing the knuckle assembly shouldn't affect said alignment because my tie rod settings shouldn't change? Is this correct?

I'd obviously like to fix everything before the alignment, but an hour to two hours of driving for the next few days still makes me nervous about killing my tires. Doing an alignment with a crappy wheel bearing doesn't make great sense either though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top