possible front wheel bearing failure

[vz_sv6_owner1990]

G'day

a few weeks ago i bought a 06 vz sv6 commodore and the past few days i have been hearing a droneing noise coming from the front wheels when at low speeds but as you accelerate it gradually the sound isnt noticeabe andit also does it when you are slowing down aswell. It does it when it runs cold and at normal operating temp.

My first thought were wheel bearings are failing but it has only done 70,000km's


Any other ideas of what it could be?

cheers in advance

[Calaber]

Have you checked the front tyre wear pattern? Some tyres really moan at low speed when they are unevenly worn due to poor wheel alignment and the sound disappears as speed increases. If you have a badly feathered tread pattern, (ie where the front edge of the tread is raised slightly over the rest of the tread block), this will possibly be your problem.

[wortus]

The wheel bearings can damage from for example impacting a gutter which may have happened before you got the car, you can probably remove the caliper and rotor and turn the hubs by hand and feel for any problems.
Make sure you mark the position of the disc relative to the hub and make sure the mating surfaces are clean and rust free before you put it back together.

[vz_sv6_owner1990]

Sweet thanks guys I'll check them tomorrow

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

Friction may be causing the noise, if brake pads and discs have recently been changed and the handbrake was not adjusted properly, there may be very light friction on the discs from the pads just nipping them which is why u can only hear it at low speeds.

To determine which wheel the noise is coming from, if u have power windows drive Down a quite road and let one window down at a time on all four doors and listen carefully from which window the sound is most obvious from. And that will be the wheel needing the attention.

A very easy way to check this would be to park ur car on a flat driveway where it won't roll, put it on neutral and release handbreak. Now jack the car and spin the wheels.
Observe if it spins freely or not, it shouldn't be hard to freely spin.
From there you can have a good idea of the problem.

I hope I have helped u n everyone.

Get back to us and let us know how u go

[vz_sv6_owner1990]

yeah will do thanks for the help

[vz_sv6_owner1990]

i highly doubt it will be the pads because they r all brand new.

[vz_sv6_owner1990]

Jacked the front end up and there is no play in the axles so I'm assuming it's just the tyres