Hey all,

Hope you can help me out with this issue. Few weeks back started to here some wheel well noise. Thought it was the breaks but turned out the pads look great when I looked at them. The noise started getting progressively louder and has been irking me for some time. The noise is an oscillating noise like metal rubbing. Only happens between 30-45mph and while turning or keeping the wheel straight on a cambered road.

I had the wheel bearing replaced and greased. Yet still the noise and more audible now. Any ideas on what it is? Any similar experiences? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
SQ89

 

I think I might have the same issue... I was thinking bearings too but havent been to the shop yet... is it from the rear wheels??

 

If it sounds like metal rubbing, I could be off base here. But don't ever rule out tires. Been there done that.

Try switching tires side to side to see if it makes a difference. It won't hurt to run directional tires backwards for a test.

James

 

I'm with two cter here. Had a similar experience and it turned out to be tires and shocks. Front shocks were worn enough to cause inside of front tires to cup slightly, which was the source of the noise you describe. Look at the inside tread block of your front tiress, if they're cupping, you probably need new front shocks.

 

well.. i do have new tires on the back... don't know about the shocks. i'll check for cupping today

 

Thanks all. I'll switch the tires to see if this makes a dfference. I checked the brake pads, they seem find maybe little less than half life on them. The metal rubbing is still there so I know it is not the sensors on the pads. Any thoughts that if it isnt shocks it could be a back end plate or pad clip? This would explain the fact tha it only makes the oscillating sound when turning right..(as the wheels turn in camber to have better cornerning)....

any thoughts?

 

Would cupping also produce a screeching high-pitched metal noise? Im checking the tires now but am weary of this, the noise disappears when I am on the brakes. Think I will go tomorrow to have the breaks looked at too.

 

I have the same noise form the rear, you can hear a grinding type noise every rotation of the tires so it's a slower grind at low speed and quick thumps at highway speed. I have a bit of shake at hwy speeds too almost like a slow wave of shaimmy from the front to the back of the car and through the steering wheel but I'm not sure the two are even related issues.

I have my car at the shop now and asked them to check the rear wheel bearings and front toires for any cupping and just check overall to see if they can figure out the issue(s). I will post what they tell me and if it fixes it once repaired.

Anyone have succes figuring out the isssue so I can direct the shop to anything else to look for?

Thanks

 

My problem was a wheel bearing on the passenger rear side. Changed it and no more noise!

 

Well the shop called me and apparently they didn't even have to take the wheels off as they test drove it and said it's not a wheel bearing (they can tell by the pitch of the noise).

They said I needs new tires (bought it this spring with the BF Goodrich G-force KDW tires) and an alignment cuz tires are cupped. They also said the aftermarket rims have spacers because they are not the correct offset and the spacers are not Hubcentric so the only thing holdig the wheels in place is the studs and that is also causing the back wheels to "hop" and adding to the vibration and tire wear issues.

They said my best bet is to buy a new rim/tire package and sell/scrap the package I have now.

 

Well the shop called me and apparently they didn't even have to take the wheels off as they test drove it and said it's not a wheel bearing (they can tell by the pitch of the noise).

They said I need new tires (bought it this spring with the BF Goodrich G-force KDW tires) and an alignment cuz tires are cupped. They also said the aftermarket rims have spacers because they are not the correct offset and the spacers are not Hubcentric so the only thing holdig the wheels in place is the studs and that is also causing the back wheels to "hop" and adding to the vibration and tire wear issues.

They said my best bet is to buy a new rim/tire package and sell/scrap the package I have now.

 

A little good news and a lot of bad news. I'm sorry to hear that, a bearing problem would have been a lot cheaper.

 

You could replace the spacers to get the hub centric style. I run flat spacers with one set of wide wheels and have no issues. Tighten up the bolts evenly, and NEVER ONE AT A TIME. Works for me. Woody

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Ya I'm going to pull the wheels off and see whats up and go hubcentric spacers but tires are already cupped & lumpy so may need new rubber.

 

Was the main answer from the shop that the bolts had created an uneveness and created the "hop" in the rears? The vibration in the wheels at highway speeds may be a bent rim if you want to check into it. Jack up the car and spin the wheel to find a flat spot (any seen and you have a bent rim). This is all a side note tho, you may not have one.

Was the noise on yours at slow speeds constant or did it rub once the wheel made a complete rotation? this is the sort of problem Im having but goes away once I hit the brakes. Did yours have that too? or say what that might be due to?

Thanks,

 

What size spacer do you have? I have a spare set of 10mm hub centric spacers....

 

So I took one of the back and front off the wheels & had a quick look.

Did not see any bent rims. but I did see a couple issues.

Problem 1 - there is 12mm hubcentric spacers as the rim offset is 42 (still doesn't push the wheel far enough out but still looks OK) on the back and no spacers on the front (35 offset looks good on front), but all four ACE aftermarket rims have a bigger center bore (I can tell if its 72.62mm or 73mm, I'm trying to find out online what ACE wheels are typically for center bore) and all missing the hubcentric spacer rings. So I will be oerdering 4 poly carbonate spacer rings (about $15 for 4 online) once I lock down the actual center bore of the ACE wheels and this should eliminate any issues related to that problem (I think the high speed shaking is probably caused by this problem).

Problem 2 - when I had the rear wheel jacked up and put the car in neutral and spun the wheel I did hear something making the type of noise I hear every rotation of the wheel, sounded almost like the rotor had a high spot on about 1/4 or 1/3 of it? I didn't have time to pull the brake assembly off & see or if the other side makes any noise but sounds like it may just need the rear rotor(s) machined or changed so I will try that first.

I'll post once I figure out the solutions.

 

Hi Stevedask,

Did you get a resolution to this problem? My XF has exactly the same problen and I'm keen to know how to fix it.

Cheers,

Aussie Brett.

 

He had two problems, if yours is the rubbing problem then maybe the bolts in the rear wheel are too long and are rubbing on the e-brake mechanism inside the top hat.

 

Well I still have the noise but I think it is prpobably the tires at the end of the day.

I did order the hubcentric spacers that stopped allot of the shaking at high speeds but did nothing for the noise I hear every turn of the wheels.

I also replaced the steering stabilizer which helped out to reduce the high speed shaking even further. ( I highly recommend doing this (15 min and $25) if you have not for a while as it improved the handeling immensely too.

I did put on the original wheels to try and eliminate the tires as the source and the noise did change form a groan every revolution to a constant lower groan that was noit as loud. I also noticed some cupping on the inside tread area of the front tires so basically I'm figuring the tires are probably the issue - but since my tires have lots of tread left I'm not about to replace them, I'll live with the noise and as long as I klnow it's the tires and not something mechanical that may fail I'm OK wiht it. As I said high speed shake is now very minimal now that I put the hub-centric spacers on and changed the steering stabilizer.

I did buy new bearings for the front wheels but I have yet to replace them as I have a feeling it's not the bearing if the noise is not a constant groan.

I suspect what happend was not having the hubcentric spacers allowed the wheels to jump around causing the cuping and un-even wear along with a tire (BF Goodrich G-force) that is already notioriously noisy is creatign the noise I am hearing.

Hope that helps.

Steve