FG 2011 XR6 Ute Growning Noise

Nards · 10-08-2018, 04:56 PM

Hi, first time post I have a what sounds like a front wheel bearing noise very loud low gowning that increases with speed. I haven't replaced front hubs but something tells me its not them car has done 70,000km.
Is there anywhere else I should be looking at for this type of noise is there a history of problems like this for this model vehicle?
Cheers and thanks you....Tony

**roddy1960** · 10-08-2018, 07:26 PM

G'day and welcome to the forums ..If you can't get help here you can't get help anywhere .. I also own an FG XR6 but mine is a car , thankfully no such issues but just because it's only 70K doesn't mean it 's unlikely to be a wheel bearing because nothing like that is guaranteed I'm afraid . Check everything and it still could be a growling bearing unfortunately ...Good luck for a quick cheap fix..

.:4:. · 10-08-2018, 07:37 PM

Has the car sat for an extended period? I had to do the front wheel bearings in my bf at 107k but it had been more or less keeping the driveway company for about 2 years at the time. It was only 5 years old when they were done.

Nards · 10-08-2018, 07:43 PM

G'day, no it hasn't sat for a while ute gets used daily although only 20km per day. It could be the front hubs but for the noise it is making I should be able to feel or hear something when I turn the wheels while vehicle is off the ground on blocks.

5thFordWA · 10-08-2018, 11:07 PM

Does the noise change with different road surfaces? In my experience, the most common cause of "wheel bearing noise" is actually tyre noise. And a tyre can be quiet at first then quite suddenly become fairly noisy.
Cheers.

mike_nofx · 11-08-2018, 08:18 AM

I have a groaning noise that increases with speed. Have you tried doing a lap of the block without the wife in the passenger seat?

stevo73 · 11-08-2018, 08:41 AM

Hi mate, why dont you try jacking the car up from the front each side seperately and try to move the wheel while it is off the ground, if it has any side to side play I would say it would be a wheel bearing.

Nards · 11-08-2018, 10:54 AM

Thanks guys for your replies, I have tried driving around without wife the noise is still there...but good try anyway. I checked wheel bearings for movement and they are ok with no free play. Its not the tyres because I have checked, my guess is to replace the front hubs and see what happens, was wandering if it could be dive shaft centre bearing.

One thing I did notice is when I spin both front wheels when car off the ground they look like they are slightly out of round as if there is a kink in the wheel rim, its not by much maybe 5mm but still its there, maybe that's normal? Anyway will change hubs and see what happens...cheers.

**GasoLane** · 11-08-2018, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nards

Thanks guys for your replies, I have tried driving around without wife the noise is still there...but good try anyway. I checked wheel bearings for movement and they are ok with no free play. Its not the tyres because I have checked, my guess is to replace the front hubs and see what happens, was wandering if it could be dive shaft centre bearing.

One thing I did notice is when I spin both front wheels when car off the ground they look like they are slightly out of round as if there is a kink in the wheel rim, its not by much maybe 5mm but still its there, maybe that's normal? Anyway will change hubs and see what happens...cheers.

How did you check the tyres? I had a noise that I couldn't work out.

The tyres were only half worn Falken's but it turned out to be the fronts, changed tyres and all quiet now.

stevo73 · 11-08-2018, 11:51 AM

I know its a simple thing but are the wheel nuts are definately tightened properly

**aussiblue** · 11-08-2018, 12:55 PM

It sounds like wheel bearing to me; has the car ever hit a curb or similar? It could also be tyres and swapping the front tyres with the rear tyres around would be a test that will confirm or eliminate that possibility.

KobiXR6T · 11-08-2018, 01:44 PM

I had to do the front bearings in my BA around similar kms. Would have to check notes to be sure when I did it age wise. Edit: Was early 2014 when I replaced them.

I recall it was after a particularly raining wet season, and I didn't have any play or clunking other than the noise that would definitely increase with speed... but not necessarily when turning or loading the offending wheel.

When I removed the hub was evident which one was the problem. New ones fitted up and no noise since.

mike_nofx · 11-08-2018, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nards

Thanks guys for your replies, I have tried driving around without wife the noise is still there...but good try anyway. I checked wheel bearings for movement and they are ok with no free play. Its not the tyres because I have checked, my guess is to replace the front hubs and see what happens, was wandering if it could be dive shaft centre bearing.

One thing I did notice is when I spin both front wheels when car off the ground they look like they are slightly out of round as if there is a kink in the wheel rim, its not by much maybe 5mm but still its there, maybe that's normal? Anyway will change hubs and see what happens...cheers.

They don’t always necessarily have free play when worn.

My BF didn’t have any free play even with noisy bearings but replacing ghek did fix the issue.

jpd80 · 11-08-2018, 05:50 PM

After a lot of kms, some tyres can get noisy, sometimes swapping right for left
and running them in the reverse direction can quieten them.

Nards · 12-08-2018, 07:41 PM

Yep, going to swap tyre around and try that before changing hubs.

Cheers,
Nards