850 Whirring/humming noise

Jush · Post by **Jush** » 11 Sep 2014, 23:09

I replaced my control arms and now a noise has started to occur that I can't for the life of me figure out..

I tried searching everywhere but no one is having the same symptoms as me.

It's a whirring kind of noise as if the tires have cupping, however, my tires do not have cupping. Could this be my axles? I heard from a local Volvo tech that if you pull out an axle even slightly that it may ruin your axle.. I don't think I was too vicious with the hub assembly but I can't recall.

Noise occurs at any speed going straight, if I take a turn at higher speeds i.e. on/off ramps the noise vanishes...

It's not engine related that's for sure.

Post by **rspi** » 12 Sep 2014, 09:15

Reach under there and push and pull on the axle shaft and see what happens.

Post by **rmmagow** » 12 Sep 2014, 09:31

Whirring or a woo-woo-woo sound while going forward is generally a wheel bearing noise. A failed axle will make a click click click noise when making a tightish turn like going in a circle in a parking lot.

Post by **kahl** » 12 Sep 2014, 09:37

I would first check the metal dust shields. they may be rubbing against your rotor.

Jush · Post by **Jush** » 12 Sep 2014, 12:24

Thanks for the input, didn't consider the wheel bearing! It's just odd that it coincided with me replacing the control arms.

Post by **abscate** » 12 Sep 2014, 18:47

rmmagow wrote:Whirring or a woo-woo-woo sound while going forward is generally a wheel bearing noise. A failed axle will make a click click click noise when making a tightish turn like going in a circle in a parking lot.

Noise occurs at any speed going straight, if I take a turn at higher speeds i.e. on/off ramps the noise vanishes...

....classic wheel bearing wear noise..it is load dependent, and as you turn and change the lateral load the noise either gets worse, goes away , or changes.

My woo woo woo lasted from January until August, when I replaced the wheel bearing, and broke a driveshaft in the process. Hope to fix that this weekend.

Wheel bearings on these cars are grossly overengineered, so you have time to fix this, no rush. I even drove my bad bearing to NYC and back all summer, round trip 350 miles weekly.

Jush · Post by **Jush** » 13 Sep 2014, 18:57

Thanks all for the input, although it's a constant harmonic type noise! it's not a -woo-woo sort of deal it's like a loud harmonic whine that vibrates throughout the car! Wheel bearings are certainly getting old but there's no major play!?

Post by **erikv11** » 13 Sep 2014, 20:02

Your description really matches a classic wheel bearing noise.

It is like this?

Jush · Post by **Jush** » 14 Sep 2014, 09:32

Ok, has to be wheel bearing. Thanks a lot guys!

Post by **abscate** » 14 Sep 2014, 15:07

Just as a thread filler, when i replaced my bad (woo woo woo) wheel bearing there was no play and the turning resistance felt identical to the new one