Car noise - what is it likely to be?

I_M_Weasel · 20 Dec 2017 at 17:59

My car has started to make an odd noise, appears to be coming from the front left, get worse as speed increases, it's not an engine noise.

I'm not getting any vibration and the it's not pulling to the left or right, the noise is worse when turning and it makes a kind of whup,whup,whup noise when going around a tight bend.

It's a 2006 Focus.

Any ideas of likely cause and cost to fix?

acemastr · 20 Dec 2017 at 18:05

Sounds like wheel bearing

Huntyz · 20 Dec 2017 at 18:34

acemastr said:
Sounds like wheel bearing

This.

If you have a jack then jack up the front left and try spinning the wheel by hand to see if its making a rough noise as it turns or if there is any play in the wheel.

I_M_Weasel · 20 Dec 2017 at 18:45

Huntyz said:
This.

If you have a jack then jack up the front left and try spinning the wheel by hand to see if its making a rough noise as it turns or if there is any play in the wheel.

I'll give it a go this weekend - might free me from helping with christmas dinner.

savagesam117 · 20 Dec 2017 at 19:02

Or possibly CV Joint.

dholdi · 20 Dec 2017 at 21:33

savagesam117 said:
Or possibly CV Joint.

I'd go with that too.

Phil W · 20 Dec 2017 at 21:37

I'd only suggest CV if the noise is louder turning in one direction than the other. If not, more likely to be a wheel bearing.

dholdi · 20 Dec 2017 at 21:59

The whup, whup bit makes me think CV joint as wheel bearings tend to whine / drone.

I_M_Weasel · 20 Dec 2017 at 23:49

What's the likely cost for CV or bearing, does sound much worse turning right.

dholdi · 20 Dec 2017 at 23:57

That depends on if you can do it yourself, either part would be in the region of £50 ish.

Dogbreath · 21 Dec 2017 at 11:06

First check the tyre for damage, a bulge/lump from a damaged carcass can cause this kind of thing.

I_M_Weasel · 21 Dec 2017 at 23:40

No bulges in the tyres, I'll have to get it booked in somewhere.

Building Candy · 22 Dec 2017 at 08:52

Phil W said:
I'd only suggest CV if the noise is louder turning in one direction than the other. If not, more likely to be a wheel bearing.

quite the opposite. the cv joint doesnt know which way its being twisted, it'll have the same effect, up down, left or right as it rotates. The wheel bearing however will sound more or less as you drive and turn left or right as it loads or unloads with the weight transfere.

Phil W · 22 Dec 2017 at 16:50

Building Candy said:
quite the opposite. the cv joint doesnt know which way its being twisted, it'll have the same effect, up down, left or right as it rotates. The wheel bearing however will sound more or less as you drive and turn left or right as it loads or unloads with the weight transfere.

I do believe you are right. I scrolled back and looked at the time, had sunk a bottle of wine by then and must have got muddled up

I_M_Weasel · 4 Jan 2018 at 19:37

All fixed now, sounds like a new car - it was, as suggested by many, the wheel bearing.

Huntyz · 4 Jan 2018 at 21:31

Nice glad you sorted it out