Hi guys,
I recently bought a 1995 Max and it has a constant drone which becomes obvious above about 35mph and get slightly louder the faster I go. At first I thought it was perhaps road noise as the front tyres were a cheap chinese brand. I swapped the tyres with my other maxima which I know is quiet but still the noise is there.

Next I was thinking bearing even though car only has 95k on it. So I took it to a mechanic who drove it and put it on a hoist. They decided that the front right bearing could do with being replaced but "isn't that bad" as there was no lateral movement in the wheel. They couldn't say for sure if it was causing the noise. He quoted me $200 to replace it.

Anyone had similar experience with a noise like this that wasn't tyres or a bearing? Any other diagnostics I could do to check other things before getting the bearing done?

Cheers.

 

Sounds like wheel bearing. Does the noise stop when you are driving at speed and turn to the left or right? Who knows what their definition of "Not that bad" is. Check it yourself. Jack the car up, put your hands on the tire at the 12 and 6 position and push/pull to see how much, if any, play is there. Nothing rubbing any where, correct?

 

I would say its your bearings its a loud sound and as you increase in speed it gets louder. Kind of like sticking a quarter water bottle between your bicycle tire and the frame to make a motorcycle sound as you increase in speed.

 

I've been trying to see if turning makes a difference to the noise but I don't think it does. I did try to feel for play in the wheel when I changed them but couldn't feel any play at all. I guess that's partly why i'm not 100% convinced it is with the bearing. Never had one go before on a car with such few miles.

 

humming or a viberating grinding noise feel it through the steering wheel and the hub gets worse or luder as you speed than it's the hub. I would check it buy jacking it up and spin the wheel and touch the coilspring when you spin the wheel it would viberate than you will know that's your problem.