Noise from the front wheel

tnhardeep · 22nd April 2022, 10:44

Mod note: Post edited for readability and grammar. Thanks.

Hello all,

I drive a 2017 Ciaz ZDI, about an year ago, I started hearing a humming/babbling sound in the front wheel on the driver side. It was periodic in the beginning but became frequent later on and now continuous and it is heard clearly when the car crosses 70 kph. I went to the Maruti service station and they said that it is due to the tires and nothing can be done.

This issue had occurred in the 1st year of ownership also, and they had changed a bearing in the wheel and the noise was fixed. This time, however they said that there is no issue with the bearing. I insisted with them to check it but they said that there is no issue with the bearing and it is the tire. (I had gotten Apollo Amazed 4G tires 1.5 years back.)

Then I went to a local garage, a GoMechanic shop. As soon as the guy drove it, he said that it's the bearing. Just to make sure it's not the tires, I rotated the tires but to no avail. Then got the bearing changed, the issue was not resolved.

Went to a 3rd and a 4th mechanic, but they couldn't understand the cause of the noise too. After searching several threads, I couldn't find an exact post related to this hence opening a new thread.

The car hasn't given me any major or minor problems so far, but it's so frustrating to drive with that constant noise, especially when I have to drive over 80 kph. It scares me, to be honest, that something bad might happen suddenly.

I live in Mohali, right next to Chandigarh and would really appreciate all the suggestions fellow members might have for me.

Thanks in advance.

Jaggu · 22nd April 2022, 13:18

How much has the new tyres run till now? Also was all the wheel bearings checked? Wheel bearing humming can be misleading and can seem to be from one side while seated inside, whereas it maybe another end that has failed.

What I suggest is to check all the 4 wheel bearings and rule out any failure.

Next can be to check the drive shaft CV, if they are in good condition and not causing this issue.

Indian2003 · 22nd April 2022, 13:24

This is a classic wheel bearing noise on 2-race wheel bearings like the ones used on front wheel drive cars. The rumbling noise increases in frequency as the speed increases. The noise changes if you drive over the lines in the middle of the road and they change when doing corners.
Jack up each wheel and spin the wheels one by one to locate the faulty bearing.

dhanushs · 23rd April 2022, 06:20

Checking a faulty bearing is pretty easy. Any mechanic can do it. So, if they say it’s not a bearing issue, it’s definitely sound from the tires.

I think Ciaz has a pretty common PCD and you can may be try getting tyres from a different car, just to rule out the specific problem.

Kosfactor · 23rd April 2022, 07:29

You could stop at an alignment shop and have them inspect the tires for any uneven tread surface however this is a Ciaz and I think it has SHVS.

SHVS system's starter generator has a manufacturing defect leading to the humming noise (2017-2018) , it is an expensive replacement and it was done free of cost for those vehicles where the owners complained about humming noise.

MisterG · 23rd April 2022, 09:23

One possible factor is uneven wear, especially at the inner edges. You will have to remove the tyre and check the wear pattern. At least that was the issue in my case. The noise disappeared after changing the tyres. The old tyres (Apollo Apterras) still had about 40-50% tread left, which was replaced with Yokohama G015s.

zeng · 24th April 2022, 03:48

I'm inclined to attribute the noise to wheel alignment related wear on a used tyre.

I suppose tyre rotations, if any may have exacerbated the noise irritation.

IndigoXLGrandDi · 25th April 2022, 19:14

I too faced humming noise from front left corner of our Elite i20 Diesel that has covered 2,41,000+ kms. since March 2015.
Whenever the car's speed would be more than 40-50 Kph, we used to hear humming noise from the front end. Even the rear seat passengers heard the humming noise. I used to feel the noise from Front Left Wheel.

I drove the car in this condition for around 8000-9000 kms.
On 23-4-2022, I showed it to my known FNG, who diagnosed the noise to Front wheel bearing.
Today I got the bearing replaced with Hyundai one (bought from Hyundai Mobis Store).
Material cost Rs. 925/- Labour of FNG- Rs. 350/- Bearing Fitting charges (Machine shop)- Rs. 150/-

Now the noise is gone. Touchwood.

22nd April 2022, 10:44	#1
tnhardeep Newbie Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Mohali Posts: 1 Thanked: 2 Times	Noise from the front wheel Mod note: Post edited for readability and grammar. Thanks. Hello all, I drive a 2017 Ciaz ZDI, about an year ago, I started hearing a humming/babbling sound in the front wheel on the driver side. It was periodic in the beginning but became frequent later on and now continuous and it is heard clearly when the car crosses 70 kph. I went to the Maruti service station and they said that it is due to the tires and nothing can be done. This issue had occurred in the 1st year of ownership also, and they had changed a bearing in the wheel and the noise was fixed. This time, however they said that there is no issue with the bearing. I insisted with them to check it but they said that there is no issue with the bearing and it is the tire. (I had gotten Apollo Amazed 4G tires 1.5 years back.) Then I went to a local garage, a GoMechanic shop. As soon as the guy drove it, he said that it's the bearing. Just to make sure it's not the tires, I rotated the tires but to no avail. Then got the bearing changed, the issue was not resolved. Went to a 3rd and a 4th mechanic, but they couldn't understand the cause of the noise too. After searching several threads, I couldn't find an exact post related to this hence opening a new thread. The car hasn't given me any major or minor problems so far, but it's so frustrating to drive with that constant noise, especially when I have to drive over 80 kph. It scares me, to be honest, that something bad might happen suddenly. I live in Mohali, right next to Chandigarh and would really appreciate all the suggestions fellow members might have for me. Thanks in advance. Last edited by Jaggu : 22nd April 2022 at 13:15.
	(2) Thanks $Received Infraction$

22nd April 2022, 13:18	#2
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,383 Thanked: 17,296 Times	re: Noise from the front wheel How much has the new tyres run till now? Also was all the wheel bearings checked? Wheel bearing humming can be misleading and can seem to be from one side while seated inside, whereas it maybe another end that has failed. What I suggest is to check all the 4 wheel bearings and rule out any failure. Next can be to check the drive shaft CV, if they are in good condition and not causing this issue.
	(6) Thanks

22nd April 2022, 13:24	#3
Indian2003 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Sarpsborg Posts: 431 Thanked: 3,669 Times View My Garage	re: Noise from the front wheel This is a classic wheel bearing noise on 2-race wheel bearings like the ones used on front wheel drive cars. The rumbling noise increases in frequency as the speed increases. The noise changes if you drive over the lines in the middle of the road and they change when doing corners. Jack up each wheel and spin the wheels one by one to locate the faulty bearing.
	(6) Thanks

23rd April 2022, 06:20	#4
dhanushs Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,435 Thanked: 11,478 Times	Re: Noise from the front wheel Checking a faulty bearing is pretty easy. Any mechanic can do it. So, if they say it’s not a bearing issue, it’s definitely sound from the tires. I think Ciaz has a pretty common PCD and you can may be try getting tyres from a different car, just to rule out the specific problem.
	() Thanks

23rd April 2022, 07:29	#5
Kosfactor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: COK\BLR\MYS Posts: 3,861 Thanked: 11,213 Times	Re: Noise from the front wheel You could stop at an alignment shop and have them inspect the tires for any uneven tread surface however this is a Ciaz and I think it has SHVS. SHVS system's starter generator has a manufacturing defect leading to the humming noise (2017-2018) , it is an expensive replacement and it was done free of cost for those vehicles where the owners complained about humming noise.
	() Thanks

23rd April 2022, 09:23	#6
MisterG Newbie Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 7 Thanked: 23 Times	Re: Noise from the front wheel One possible factor is uneven wear, especially at the inner edges. You will have to remove the tyre and check the wear pattern. At least that was the issue in my case. The noise disappeared after changing the tyres. The old tyres (Apollo Apterras) still had about 40-50% tread left, which was replaced with Yokohama G015s.
	() Thanks

24th April 2022, 03:48	#7
zeng BHPian Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 180 Thanked: 107 Times	Re: Noise from the front wheel I'm inclined to attribute the noise to wheel alignment related wear on a used tyre. I suppose tyre rotations, if any may have exacerbated the noise irritation.
	() Thanks

25th April 2022, 19:14	#8
IndigoXLGrandDi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Solapur (MH-13) Posts: 1,867 Thanked: 598 Times	Re: Noise from the front wheel I too faced humming noise from front left corner of our Elite i20 Diesel that has covered 2,41,000+ kms. since March 2015. Whenever the car's speed would be more than 40-50 Kph, we used to hear humming noise from the front end. Even the rear seat passengers heard the humming noise. I used to feel the noise from Front Left Wheel. I drove the car in this condition for around 8000-9000 kms. On 23-4-2022, I showed it to my known FNG, who diagnosed the noise to Front wheel bearing. Today I got the bearing replaced with Hyundai one (bought from Hyundai Mobis Store). Material cost Rs. 925/- Labour of FNG- Rs. 350/- Bearing Fitting charges (Machine shop)- Rs. 150/- Now the noise is gone. Touchwood.
	() Thanks