Humming Noise S 60 Sounds Like Wheel Bearing...NOT!!

[Viper_7]

Perhaps totally irrelevant but I thought I'd let you know anyway.
I have a similar symptom on my '96 850. A whining noise mainly at low speeds.
After searching for a long time, I discovered it is the radio antenna making noise in the drive wind.

Ah, the good old S60 doesn't have an external antenna, it's built into the rear window, but I've heard similar with other cars. My old motor it was fixed quite low on the roof, and it used to hit the roof when it was windy.

[scott60]

Hi!
I am new to the forum and read all of posts regarding the strange noise from the front end.
I have a 2003 S60 that I purchased in June of 2006 with 19,500 miles on it. Immaculate car that was designated as certified by the dealer here in St. Louis, MO. I noticed the same noise that you described right away out of the left front. The dealer that I bought it from stated that there was nothing wrong. They told me that it was the tires. This was the first time I brought it in. I took it in a second time and they said that the left front wheel bearing was bad. They replaced it and checked the other wheel bearings and said that everything else was ok. I took it home and still heard it. I called them the next day and they told me that there was nothing they could do. They told me to get a set of tires on it, that it was tire noise. Keep in mind that everyting was under warranty. They told me that because of the warranty, they can't spend a lot of time on it to diagnose.
I wasn't about to give up. I contacted the other dealer here in St. Louis and made and appointment. The tech said that there was no way that tires made that noise. In total, I had it in four seperate times. The following was what was done to diagnose the problem over four different appointments:
1) Put the car on a rack and ran it. Noise still there.
2) They took brand new tires off of a 2006 S60 and put them on mine and drove it. Noise still there.
3) No evidence of being wrecked. Carfax was clear.
4) Checked all four wheel bearings and replaced them. Noise still there.
5) They called the regional tech and they thought that it might be the left front axles. They replaced both the left and right axles. Noise still there.
6) Lastly, they had just received a "Technical Bulletin" that the top and bottom bushings failed on a couple of S60's and that a "kit" could be put on that solves the problem. Had this installed. The noise is not as bad but is still there.
They will not work on it anymore and tell me that the bushing kit fixed it. "That is the most quiet that it is going to get". I really can't complain because they covered everything under warranty, and even gave me a loaner each time I brought it in.
It is still very aggrevating. My next move will be to put a new set of tires when the others wear out. I have even considered trading it in on another car, but don't want to take a loss on it.
Hopefully, this helps you out.

Scott

[nervegrind3r]

when do you normally hear the sound from the front end though? The sounds occrus randomly for me, but ALWAYS occurs when I break alot (in stop and go traffic) and accelerate at low speeds. Once I tap the breaks again, the sounds goes away. Once I hit the gas again, the noise comes back, until I hit highway speeds.

[scott60]

Nervegrind3r:
The noise is pretty consistant. It is louder upon breaking. Since it is the struts where the bushings are replaced, the tech told me that there is a lot of torque at braking which causes the noise to be more noticeable. I really hear it from about 25 mph on up.

Scott