I got the idea of doing a short post on different noises and what they might mean because, really, some people don’t know. The first one I’m going to deal with is from recent memory; and the one that started me thinking about these posts in the first place, it’s the Wheel Bearing noise.

What’s that humming?

A wheel bearing noise is often a constant hum at a speed more than approimately 15mph and will be louder the faster you go. It should be said that it’s not always the case they start at 15mph, they can be there at a much lower speeds too. Just a good rule of thumb.

What else?

Just to pin it down a lot of the time the sound can change as you turn your steering wheel while driving. What happens here is you are shifting the weight or force of the vehicle as you turn so it can get louder if it’s under more pressure and; not quite as loud when that force or pressure is lighter.

Sometimes we can even pinpoint which wheel it’s coming from by doing this. But it’s best to get it checked properly. The noise will usually carry through the whole car and you could sometimes think all the wheel bearings are faulty!

What happens if I don’t fix it?

Short answer; Your wheel falls off. And while this is rare enough, it really can happen.

But ignoring it is not going to do you any favors. You’re going to cause wear to more items like a stub axle or the hub assembly, possibly even your ABS system and inevitably this is going to cost much much more to repair.

Bottom line

If you hear a funny rumbling or whiring sound that increases with car speed. Is there if you’re moving in neutral, and goes away when you stop at a light. You may have a wheel bearing issue. So get it checked sooner rather than later.