Wheel noise?

[Mr. BILL]

My '90 300 SE while running down the highway is beginning to make a noise that sounds like a loose wheel. Kinda like a freight train (not that loud).

At 245K miles, could it be wheel bearings?
Whattaya think?

[Ashman]

Dunno about you, but my car has a tone sound, like metal to metal when I make a sharp left turn. My Mech thnks its a bad bearing, gonna have it looked at on saturday. Sounds ot me like its either bearings, or worn suspension busings.

Alon

[Mr. BILL]

Thanks Alon,

I forgot to mention that if you lightly apply the brakes, the noise stops.

[Ashman]

Light brakes and noise stops?

Is it a brake squeal perhaps?

Have you had your discs adjusted? or brakes adjusted?

perhaps you need some stop squeak?

It could still be something I mentioned if a busing is bad, maybe the brake will stabilize te vibration more than when its not applied.

I'm not a mech, but it wouldn't hurt to check.

After about 10 years, give or take a few, the rubber in the suspension and elsewhere can get spongy, and aloow more movement.

I think my noise is directly related to the new lowering springs. Probably needs to be repacked or replaced but we shall find out.

Alon

[jjrodger]

As a simple starting point, check the wheel nuts are all tight. My car exhibited just the symptoms you have described; I found the wheel nuts on one of the front wheels were only finger tight. Close shave.

[Mr. BILL]

Is there a specific torque setting?