Thread: Is it tire noise? It can't be tire noise......Or can it?

Ok guys here is my latest issue..... FML

I took off my two front winter tires this weekend. I have my all seasons in the back (kuhmo lx platinum, about 2 years old) I took off the winter tires because of how noisy they are and well, winter is over. I put on my other 2 kuhmo lx platinums.

I moved the two kuhmos from the back and put them in front. Yes, I made sure the outside was still on the outside. I took off the winter tires, put on my other two kuhmos and put them in the back.

Balanced everything, new valve stems etc....all done myself.

Leave my shop that I can use and lone behold, the exact same "tire noise" is still there???!!! I'm not only completely confused, but pissed at this point.

How on earth can they still be noisy? These tires have never been noisy before. The noise is identical to my winter tires being on which makes me think that maybe it isn't tire noise.

Some quick history. Front drivers side wheel bearing was replaced about a year ago with one from napa. I did jack up that side and grab the wheel and it appears to spin noise free (at least at slow speeds) and have no play in it. I didn't check the other side, I guess i probably should. Full alignment was done about a year ago, no major adjustment was needed. Car drives straight as an arrow. All tires are exactly inflated to 30 psi.

Noise starts to be heard at about 15-20 mph all and gets its loudest around 50 mph. At about 75 mph it almost sound like it goes away, or maybe the other road noise drowns it out? Idk.

I can shift in N and noise doesn't change while I'm moving. Applying the breaks also does not change the pitch or loudness of the noise.

If I jerk the wheel to the left the noise does seem to get quieter although it still is there.

Here is a video of the noise, not the best video but its something. Don't mind my fiance at the end acting a fool =)

20130512_145553_zps7583dbba.mp4 Video by thegipper1 | Photobucket

Thoughts?

So if you turn to the right does it get louder?

I wanna say its a bearing noise.

no, turning to the right does not make it louder.

Thats what I'm starting to think. It kind of sounds like its coming from the drivers side but then again all noise sounds like its coming from that side because thats where you sit lol.

I haven't checked the right side wheel, maybe there is play in it? It's not a awful noise (grinding) but it sound just like tire noise. Thats why I was so eager to take off my winter tires because I thought thats what was making all of the noise.

Did you watch the video deathpunch?

I watched it.

Get the car in the air and spin each front tire as fast as you can and hold the spring with your other hand. You'll feel the vibration go up the strut into the spring and that will tell you what bearing is gone.

or shake the tire back and forth any play and bearing is bad

I'll do that after work tomorrow.


Thanks

Originally Posted by thegipper

Ok guys here is my latest issue..... FML

I stopped reading at this point. FYL.. yup it's that bad that a little tire noise is causing you to say that?

Did you cross the tires when swapping them? If so.. put them back on the sides they rode for the last 5-10K miles and the change in direction will likely fix the issue.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

I stopped reading at this point. FYL.. yup it's that bad that a little tire noise is causing you to say that?

Did you cross the tires when swapping them? If so.. put them back on the sides they rode for the last 5-10K miles and the change in direction will likely fix the issue.

Yes, I may have been a little dramatic. Annoyed I guess.

I did not cross them. For example, I took the rear left tire and wheel and moved it to the front left position. Took the right rear tire and wheel and moved it to the right front position. The two wheels I took off in the front, I removed the winter tires and put my other two kuhmos on, and put them in the back (keeping the "outside" on the outside for each tire).

The "tire noise" is identical to what it was before when I had the winter tires in the front. Thats what I don't get and why I think it may be something else. The winter tires have actually never been that noisy, thats why this year when I thought they were getting noisy, I was surprised.

Bill, think it could be a wheel bearing?

I think it's tough to tell from teh vid. You are crazy as the girl in your vid suggests

could be a bearing..could be tire noise. I'd go with bearing. Ok.. go fix it.

Its been confirmed I have a noisy drivers side wheel bearing. My buddy at work ( a former shop owner and mechanic of 17years) took it for a spin and said "bad drivers side wheel bearing, get it fixed, don't buy a ****y wheel hub next time".

So apparently the standard napa ones are junk.

Ordering the Timken today. 118 ft/lbs on the axle nut correct?

I was hoping you didn't find it to be the bearing. I have pretty much the same noise on my GXP, all 4 bearings recently replaced (timken). 118 sounds about right for the axle nut, not 100% positive, been a few months since I did mine.

Our impala has winter tires on right now, and makes the exact same noise. I assumed it was the tires, but it doesn't always do it....Just most of the time.

Originally Posted by TheMadcat

I was hoping you didn't find it to be the bearing. I have pretty much the same noise on my GXP, all 4 bearings recently replaced (timken). 118 sounds about right for the axle nut, not 100% positive, been a few months since I did mine.

So one of your is making the noise after you replaced it with Timken's all around? I bought a Moog one for 105 w/tax because Bill says they are reliable and has a 3 yr warranty.

I thought for sure it was tire noise but after my buddy the mechanic checked, definitely a wheel bearing. Plus given the circumstances it has to be a bearing and not the tire.

Will post back after its 100% confirmed.

Oh, and no one has still given me a solid answer for the axle nut torque spec. Some say 118ft/lbs some say 159ft/lb because mine is a 02 (01+ are supposed to be torqued to 159ft/lb for some unknown reason)

2001 was the only year they said 159 even though the bearing is exactly the same and nothing changed at all on the car.

Then in 2002 it was right back to 118 ft lbs. Its always going to be 118, no matter the year of the grand prix (97-08).

Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch

2001 was the only year they said 159 even though the bearing is exactly the same and nothing changed at all on the car.

Then in 2002 it was right back to 118 ft lbs. Its always going to be 118, no matter the year of the grand prix (97-08).

Awesome, thats good to know. My axle nut is 36mm (which I found out I don't have) so I was going to do it yesterday after work but now I need to go get the socket after work. I will report my success or failure later tonight.

Problem solved, it was that 2 year old napa replacement hub that went bad. Didn't visually look that bad and still turned decently, but obviously with pressure and speed the noise showed its ugly face.

Took me an hour from pulling in the garage to taking it for a test drive. Hub came out real easy probably because I put anti seize on everything from the last time I did it (which I highly recommend). The hardest part is get the new hub back on the axle. Seems like the tolerance of the splines are very tight so it needs to be clean. With a some help from a dead blow hammer, I got it on enough to get the 3 bolts started which drew it in the last bit. Torqued to 118ft/lbs. Car is WAY quieter now.

I still think my Kuhmo's are relatively noisy. So far, I'm not that impressed with their longevity and road noise. Otherwise, they were relatively cheap and perform well.

Thanks for the help everyone.

PS. We'll see how long this "Moog" wheel hub lasts.

Keep in mind I think our bearings are undersized for the application. At least that's what I believe is the cause on most of them going bad so fast.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Keep in mind I think our bearings are undersized for the application. At least that's what I believe is the cause on most of them going bad so fast.

Whats crazy is the original wheel hub is still on the passenger side with no problems what so ever. I'm guessing they are AC Delco wheel hubs? If they weren't so darn expensive, I'd replace them with the Delcos but for 100 bucks and a 3 year warranty, I'll give the Moog's a shot. Its really not that hard to replace even If I have to replace them in 2.5 years.