Please help diagnose this noise/vibration

jbourke · Post by **jbourke** » 03 Feb 2011, 02:14

Our 2002 V70 2.0T with 123000KM's makes a grinding noise below ~20km/h. It originates from the front end, more so on the left side. It is also slightly noticeable in the steering. The best I can describe it is like the a/c compressor is engaged but than much more pronounced and phasing in and out (woop-woop). Being in D or N doesn't make a difference. At higher speed the car is driving absolutely beautifully. On a side but maybe related note, the front tires seem to make a high pitch noise. I thought the two symptoms were pointing to a bad wheel bearing but since I have rotated the tires this sound is much more noticeable so maybe I just need new (and better quality) tires

Your expert input and help is much appreciated.

John

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 03 Feb 2011, 22:24

I have to agree, it does sound like a bad wheel bearing. It could definitely be bad tires. How many miles are on them?

jbourke · Post by **jbourke** » 05 Feb 2011, 01:02

I recently bought the car, unfortunately I don't know about tire km's. Given the state of the wear indicators they have still a bit of life in them. About V70 (front) wheel bearings: they seem to wear out rather quick? There are more members with lower mileage cars and bearings gone south. Is this common to all front wheel driven cars? My prior car was a rear wheel driven BMW with 330KM's and original bearings all around ...

Thanks,

John

Post by **jimmy57** » 05 Feb 2011, 08:16

Wheel bearings on P2 cars (not including XC90) are not too failure prone at all. WHeel bearings on P2 cars that encounter bad roads or curbs, etc do fail. Dust shields inboard of brake rotors on front can get pushed in easily and rub rotors and make noises that are speed and direction dependent.

Post by **JRL** » 05 Feb 2011, 09:54

jimmy57 wrote:Wheel bearings on P2 cars (not including XC90) are not too failure prone at all. Wheel bearings on P2 cars that encounter bad roads or curbs, etc do fail. Dust shields inboard of brake rotors on front can get pushed in easily and rub rotors and make noises that are speed and direction dependent.

Seriously man where do you come off saying this?
I've never seen a brand that has so many wheel bearing failures.
I've replaced at least 8-10 wheel bearings on lower mileage Volvos from Gen1's and MANY P2s
front AND rear, (mostly rear)