strange noise - hope someone can help

[VeDubDan]

So, my Golf.

Got a funny noise that seems to be coming from back left, I can almost hear it going round and the noise speeds up the faster i go. After 20MPH it goes. Hope you all appreciate it's difficult to replicate the noise by means of typing on this forum but it's a very dull sound that fades in and out, kinda like a washing machine when it's pumping water out - like a whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh getting faster and faster upto 20MPH.

The noise then comes back at around 85-90MPH but as you can imagine the noise is REALLY fast coupled with a slight vibration.

Now I've had the wheels balanced and also a 4-wheel alighment, but this was before I've experienced this problem.

Can wheels simply become unbalanced?

I'm nipping to the tyre garage shortly, hopefully. Just wondered if anyone has any advice to offer?

Thanks team,

Dan

[iwaters]

So, my Golf.

Got a funny noise that seems to be coming from back left, I can almost hear it going round and the noise speeds up the faster i go. After 20MPH it goes. Hope you all appreciate it's difficult to replicate the noise by means of typing on this forum but it's a very dull sound that fades in and out, kinda like a washing machine when it's pumping water out - like a whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh getting faster and faster upto 20MPH.

The noise then comes back at around 85-90MPH but as you can imagine the noise is REALLY fast coupled with a slight vibration.

Now I've had the wheels balanced and also a 4-wheel alighment, but this was before I've experienced this problem.

Can wheels simply become unbalanced?

I'm nipping to the tyre garage shortly, hopefully. Just wondered if anyone has any advice to offer?

Thanks team,

Dan

Don't admit to breaking the law on a public forum?

Have you checked the tyre pressure? Tyres can go out of balance, expecially if you loose a wheel weight. Could possibly be a wheel bearing as well. Let us know what the tyre place says.

[Tricky Red]

Almost definitely sawtoothing on the inside edge of the tyres. Generally sounds like a bearing gone. Run your hand round the inside edge of the tyre and if it feels as if there are steps, this is your cause.

Pretty much all cars on the same chassis platform as the golf suffers (I have an Octavia, same issue) and some tyres are more prone than others. If is to do with the geometry from the factory.

If you have Dunlop, like me, you will be tearing your hair out. Rebalancing rarely sorts the issue, as the tyre goes out of round over time.

[VeDubDan]

Don't admit to breaking the law on a public forum?
.

err on a rolling road i meant

just nipped to tyre place - busy gotta nip back.

If it is a wheel bearing is that an expensive job?

Well I had a new tyre fitted to this back left wheel because the entire inside of tyre was completely bald. So had a 4 wheel alighment done then a new tyre fitted. So it seems it's a problem corner of the car. It's really irritating me!!

[VeDubDan]

oh and another quick think to note - the car has always has Sport Contact tyres (these alloys are the miniapolis wheel 17inch i think - BIG!)

But when i had this issue with the back left tyre balding I a cheaper tyre fitted. So 3 tyres are the expensive sports contacts and this 4th one (back left) is el cheapo.

Dan

[Tricky Red]

Did you get a print out of the values after the correction?? You should have if you had four wheel alignment.

[Crasher]

Could be a noisy tyre but Golf 5 rear wheel bearings are a known weak spot.

[VeDubDan]

Did you get a print out of the values after the correction?? You should have if you had four wheel alignment.

No didn't get any paper work. Didn't know i should! Will remember that if theres a next time.

[VeDubDan]

ok update.

So been to the tyre place (who are very good i must say). This resulted in 2 new tyres which I expected. The back left wheel I thought was the problem seemed to be fine, he checked it out and all seemed ok, therefore wheels bearing maybe a problem. Then we went to the rear drivers side wheel and on the inside of that it had flat spots all over it. I can only assume this been an issue prior to the wheel alignment.

2 new tyres on the front ( el cheapo cos I'm skint! ) and the one decent tyre from the front replace the flat spotted tyre at the back. Drove back to work , approx 2 miles, and it DIDN'T make the washing machine pump draining whooshing (techical term I know)

I'm not saying it's cured as I've not done 85MPH as yet (will test this on a rolling road on the way home )

Fingers crossed peeps. Will update tonight/tomorrow.

Dan