bambar

Hi guys,

Get a humming/whining noise when accelerating, happens at speeds over 60 km/h - and I know from reading on this from that the usual suspects are the wheel bearings or the differential.

But is there any way to tell which it could be, the diff or the bearings? Any different 'characteristics' of the noise that could identify either/or?

Thanks!

vchris1987

How many miles on diff fluids, TC, trans? You will be surprised how quite the diffs become with fresh oil!

bambar

The mileage on the car is 165,000 km (~102,000 miles).

Recently bought the car, and not sure if the PO has changed the fluids. I may change the fluids to be on the safe side.

But the tricky question is - how do you differentiate a whining noise caused by the differential from that caused by wheel bearings?

deilenberger

Bearing noise typically changes with loading on the bearing - like high speed cornering puts more side load on the bearing. If it gets noisier when cornering chances are a bearing is going out. Differential usually exhibits noise right from the get-go (0 MPH..)

JAGMAN1

If the noise changes when your coasting, accelerating or decelerating it is probably a diff noise. Change the fluid anyway. Cheap insurance.

bambar

Thanks guys - car is at the workshop now and will get the bearings checked, as well as the diffs.
Then, getting Diff. + t-case + transmission fluids changed. Let's see how it goes.

RAudi Driver

How old are your tires. Tires make sounds like a bad wheel bearing. Check your tires first.

bambar

​​The noise only comes when pushing the accelerator. When I take my foot of the pedal, no noise.
if it was the wheel, wouldn't the noise be non-stop regardless of foot on the throttle?

getting wheels balanced and checked anyway.

sirfin

And if it's was the diff the noise would be non-stop too...