What could this sound be from?

smr

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smr

Soldato
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Hi,

Got my car booked in for Tuesday but I'm just curious as to what this could be... my car is making a kind of 'womp womp womp' sound which is most noticeable when driving around 30-40mph, at 10mph-20mph you can't really hear it and above 40mph it gets quicker but not louder. It's louder and more pronounced at around 30-40... and even more so when cornering, say at 30mph around a long sweeping corner or a large roundabout.

I thought it was the engine at first and maybe a lack of oil but the oil level is fine.

Now I'm wondering if it could be tyres or a wheel bearing or so?
 
Sounds very much like a wheel bearing, get it checked out by a reputable garage.

Assuming it is the bearing, it’s not a big job and shouldn’t cost you too much.
 
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smr said:
Hi,

Got my car booked in for Tuesday but I'm just curious as to what this could be... my car is making a kind of 'womp womp womp' sound which is most noticeable when driving around 30-40mph, at 10mph-20mph you can't really hear it and above 40mph it gets quicker but not louder. It's louder and more pronounced at around 30-40... and even more so when cornering, say at 30mph around a long sweeping corner or a large roundabout.

I thought it was the engine at first and maybe a lack of oil but the oil level is fine.

Now I'm wondering if it could be tyres or a wheel bearing or so?
Click to expand...

Start at the basics:

- Visually inspect the tyres. Turn the steering wheel full lock in one direction and have a look at the entirety of the tyre tread, particularly the inside shoulder and the outside shoulder. Is it balding? Can you see white piece of cord showing through from the inner carcass of the tyre? Can you see any bulges in the tyre sidewall?
- Check your tyre pressures
- Check your wheel nuts are done up properly

It may well be the wheel bearing, these checks are very basic and should take around 1 minute per corner, so for the sake of 4 minutes of your life, it may save your tyre blowing out/wheel falling off and save you a trip to the garage.
 
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I checked the tyres today. Rears are ok, front left is well worn and need replacing. Front right not far from it.

I'll get both front tyres replaced first. Just surprised to hear that womp womp sound coming from a tyre, if it is that.

Think I will cancel garage appointment as I dont want the guy saying its something which is gonna be costly when its just the tyres - which need replacing anyway.

Also the steering wheel is actually shaking a bit, at 60mph, fine until that speed but when you hit it theres a subtle small juddery shake.
 
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If the steering wheel is shaking at that speed, it’s a wheel balance issue or an out of shape or unevenly worn tyre.
The above can also mimic a worn wheel bearing noise.
Get the fronts replaced and get the garage to check the rears for balance and even wear.
 
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is it ok to have different speed rating tyres?

My current tyres are Cross Climate 2 215/55/R16 97V XL

I could get Cross Climate 2 215/55/R16 W 97 XL fitted today.

Or I could get Cross Climate 2 215/55/R16 V 93 fitted today.

​

 
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Thanks, there are no slots today actually, website must be slow. Think I'll go with ATS as it's cheaper than tyresonthedrive anyway.

Also just realised, my cross climates are the older crossclimate+ and the new ones are crossclimate 2.
 
Got my tyres being fitted this morning. Going to get the two new Crossclimate 2 tyres fitted on the front and leave the Crossclimate+ on the back.

Will get the front wheels wheel alignment. Is it worth the extra 20 quid to get the rear wheels aligned as well?

Its been 50,000 miles since I got the Crossclimate+ tyres fitted and tracking done.

My car is the Ford Focus.
 
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smr said:
Got my tyres being fitted this morning. Going to get the two new Crossclimate 2 tyres fitted on the front and leave the Crossclimate+ on the back.

Will get the front wheels wheel alignment. Is it worth the extra 20 quid to get the rear wheels aligned as well?

Its been 50,000 miles since I got the Crossclimate+ tyres fitted and tracking done.

My car is the Ford Focus.
Click to expand...

How's it driving with the new tyres? Is the dodgy noise still there?
 
Gaygle said:
How's it driving with the new tyres? Is the dodgy noise still there?
Click to expand...

Yep, not as bad as before but definitely still there. So it's likely the wheel bearing, new tyres were needed anyway.

Sounds like it is the wheel bearing. How much is it likely to cost to get replaced?
 
smr said:
Yep, not as bad as before but definitely still there. So it's likely the wheel bearing, new tyres were needed anyway.

Sounds like it is the wheel bearing. How much is it likely to cost to get replaced?
Click to expand...
Hard to say for obvious reasons, but I’ve paid £80 for a wheel bearing a few years back.

For todays prices and depends on the garage, I’d expect less than £150 (closer to £100) for a Focus.
 
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