excessive road noise front right wheel

[merc07]

My w203 with 112k had a lower suspension arm replaced for the mot
Since then I have noticed this road tyre noise.
You here it from 30mph and above, you can hear it over the stereo.
It's like a droaning, almost the noise you get from offroad landrover tyres !
Comes fromom the front right where the arm was replaced.
If you drive over new tarmac it is much quieter.
Here is what has ben tried:

Swapped the arm for another - no change
Swapped front wheels over - no change
Nipped up the bearings - no change
Re balanced all 4 tryes, all are almost new - no change
Replaced the new front contis for miches - no change

Put the old worn out arm back on - quieter but still there ?

There was obviously something there before the arm was replaced but I hadn't taken much notice of it.
Replacing the arm has amllified the noise

Any ideas ?

Cheers
Adam

 

[WDB124066]

What happens when you turn...?

 

[merc07]

No difference, the guy from the tyre shop had me weaving across lanes to listen to it....wandered what that was for...

 

[Harley Man]

Have you checked the tracking with the new arm fitted? it could be the noise is caused by too much toe in or out and the noise is the tyres scrubbing

 

[merc07]

I'll add that to the list, yes they checked tracking and also 4 wheel alignment.

We then fitted the old worn arm back on and the noise is there but quieter
It's just thst the new arm seems to amplifiy it hence that is when I noticed it.

In short there must me something else causing it ?
I

 

[Sp!ke]

A droaning noise is more likely to be a wheel bearing.

If you get the wheel in the air and spin it is there any noise or evidence the bearing is on its way out?

When you say you 'nipped up' the bearing, did it actually need adjustment or did you just tighten it anyway?

Personally I'd just go ahead and replace the bearing so as to rule it out.

 

[brucemillar]

Adam

On my C55 I had a very audible humm from the front right. This was eventually cured when I replaced the front tyres. When I say audible I mean it sounded exactly like a shot bearing. Anything over 25/30mph and the drone would start. On B roads it was awful.

Try swapping a rear onto the front. You only need to run it a short distance to test.

 

[merc07]

There is no noise when the wheel is spun freely?
Isn't it the whole hub that has to be replaced not just the bearing ?

As for the tyres, a brand new set of michelin hp's were tried, no difference what so ever, rears are wider so can't be swapped but fronts were swapped for each other

It's not a massive noise just something annoying that I didn't here before.
.
If you drive on the motorway with the left wheel on new tarmac and the right on old it is very noisey.
If you drive the left on old and the right on new tarmac it is alot quieter which proves it is only from the right cirner ?

Cheers
Adam

 

[merc07]

The bearings were nipped as there was a small amount of play in them.

 

[Starky]

How is the noise?

 

[Sp!ke]

The bearings were nipped as there was a small amount of play in them.

Just change it. You've tried everything else.

 

[merc07]

One thing I will say is that the arm was not a mercedes part.

Guess your right, bearings next...

Cheers
Adam

 

[Billy-cls55]

My w203 with 112k had a lower suspension arm replaced for the mot
Since then I have noticed this road tyre noise.
You here it from 30mph and above, you can hear it over the stereo.
It's like a droaning, almost the noise you get from offroad landrover tyres !
Comes fromom the front right where the arm was replaced.
If you drive over new tarmac it is much quieter.
Here is what has ben tried:

Swapped the arm for another - no change
Swapped front wheels over - no change
Nipped up the bearings - no change
Re balanced all 4 tryes, all are almost new - no change
Replaced the new front contis for miches - no change

Put the old worn out arm back on - quieter but still there ?

There was obviously something there before the arm was replaced but I hadn't taken much notice of it.
Replacing the arm has amllified the noise

Any ideas ?

Cheers
Adam

Tyre delaminating , not running pzeros are you? Basically going out of shape I have had this on 2 x cars and I know what you are talking about, if confirmed change both tyres

 

[Sp!ke]

I know it sounds unconnected but have you checked the engine mounts? You get all sorts of weird vibrations and noises if the engine mounts are shot.

 

[merc07]

Tyre delaminating , not running pzeros are you? Basically going out of shape I have had this on 2 x cars and I know what you are talking about, if confirmed change both tyres

Tyres are conti sport 3's probably not the quietest but thy are just 7 weeks old, 5k miles.

As I mentioed before, they tried a pair of new Michelin Primacy Hp's which made little difference, maybe a tad less noise but still there ?

 

[merc07]

I'll see about doing the bearing, is it replaced on it's own or the complete hub assembly ?

As I said before it's not a geuine arm fitted and I don't know the make.
Whats different about the lemforder parts that are always mentioned ?

Cheers
Adam

 

[gIzzE]

Put a Lemforder arm on, the q-link arms are terrible.
That is a big point to leave out, you have oem on the left and cheap after market one of the right.

When I fitted Q-Link ones last autumn my left one lasted less than a week before creaking and the right one last 10 weeks before the all joint was shot.
Replaced them for Lemforder ones and so much better.

So it maybe the cheap arm, maybe it is hollow to save weight and resonating?

But I would do the bearing as well, they are changed on their own.

 

[Starky]

How can you tell if the arm is a mercades part? Or a cheap after market one .

 

[merc07]

The arm was £80 to the garage, they tried 2 different suppliers.
They feel the same weight as the original.

I purposely didn't mention this as I wanted to see what else it may be.
I would probably just got back 'cheap parts'
I'll get it replaced with the lemforder type and also get the bearing changed as well.

From merc, the genuine arm is £170+vat, thats how you tell

 

[gIzzE]

I paid £46+vat each for two Lemforder arms from eurocarparts under a trade account a few weeks back.