Slight droning noise

Wammer · 12 December 2011 at 9:13PM

I have a 59 plate Focus Tdci which is under warranty. For the past couple of week it has had a slight droning noise which I only notice after driving about 20 miles that stops briefly when I touch the brake pedal.

Any idea what it could be? I've had a couple of suggestions, but would appreciate any opinions.

I am taking it to the garage to get checked out before I approach the dealer to see if it is something that is covered under warranty.

scheming_gypsy · 12 December 2011 at 9:20PM

Droning noise is often a wheel bearing

garethgas · 12 December 2011 at 9:23PM

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Droning noise is often a wheel bearing

I'd go along with that too.

Wammer · 12 December 2011 at 9:30PM

Yes that was one of the suggestions I had. The other was that it may be the brake caliper sticking.

Is the care safe enough to drive until I can get it looked at? Getting my usual garage to have a look tomorrow, but can't get it booked into the dealer until next week. I drive 70 miles round trip every day.

fadetogrey · 12 December 2011 at 9:42PM

Mother inlaw in the back seat??????????:cool:

scheming_gypsy · 12 December 2011 at 11:05PM

Wammer wrote: »

Yes that was one of the suggestions I had. The other was that it may be the brake caliper sticking.

Is the care safe enough to drive until I can get it looked at? Getting my usual garage to have a look tomorrow, but can't get it booked into the dealer until next week. I drive 70 miles round trip every day.

if it is a wheel bearing then I'm in the same boat as you! I'm doing 70 miles a days with a slightly moaning bearing. If you jack the car up and wiggle the wheels, if one feels like it's going to fall off then don't drive the car.

atrixblue.-MFR-. · 12 December 2011 at 11:49PM

what side does it seem to be noisy at? passengers or drivers? jack up what ever side its coming from and do as above like gypsy said, narrowing the side its coming from will prevent you jacking up and letting down 4 times but just the twice.

to honour your warranty of what you have left make sure that any parts replaced are genuin ford parts fitted at a VAT reg garage.

Wammer · 13 December 2011 at 12:10AM

Thanks both.

The car just had its winter tyres put on a week past Saturday at the local tyre fitting place. I would hope (expect) that they might have noticed if there was something amiss if it was one of the front wheels. It's hard to say where the noise is coming from, but I would guess the front offside/drivers.

The service department at the local Ford dealer said a bearing would be covered under warranty so that's where it will be going if it is that. Hopefully the garage will confirm tomorrow once they see it.

Someone said a bearing would be noisy all the time and not just after it had been driven for a while as mine is. Is that the case?

scheming_gypsy · 13 December 2011 at 7:16AM

Normally they are but mine tends to go quiet for a while and then start again,,, unless it's not the bearing that's gone on mine.

Skulls · 13 December 2011 at 9:41AM

Winter tyres are normally noisier than normal tyres but touching brakes would not change the sound unless you have slowed down quite a bit. Could also be bearing, sticky caliper, loose/warped disk. Quite often the side you think the noise is coming from is totally wrong.

colino · 13 December 2011 at 11:25AM

Most likely to be the wheel bearing as the noise goes when you brake. The brakes are then effectively lining up all the components where they should be temporarily.