We started getting this odd whine from our Outback; IIRC 2011 and say 75k miles. Its fairly high pitched and seems to be coming from one of the wheels. It first started after the car had been parked in a bad rain storm and was really loud at first (as loud as the radio loud) but settled down to a lower volume after say 10 miles or so. Now the odd part – it disappears when you put any pressure on the brakes and comes back as soon as your foot leaves the brakes. I am thinking something loose in the housing of one of the brakes but I am also thinking a bearing.
What would your guess be? I’ll check back tonight after work.
(There is lots of stuff about whining Outbacks on the internet but more during acceleration rather than braking or starting as soon as the car engine is started. This is only when moving and not braking.)
Maybe. But that it disappears when you put the brakes on confuses me a little. Usually things like that more likely make noise as you use the brakes. Sort of like the makers way of saying “hey idiot”. Speaking of which, all the fluid levels are good and none of the idiot lights have come on.
Other additional info is that the pitch is constant (and not variable like rotors usually are) like a single note and that it remains pretty much the same if its a slow walk or 50mph. Handling, braking, acceleration and all that is fine just like its always been; its just this annoying sound. Since we don’t have a Smilie for scratching your head I’ll settle for :smack:
(I made an appointment with the dealership for two weeks out - the earliest I could get - but I’m considering going to a NAPA or NTB like place sooner. Hence the quest for opinions.)
Don’t go to NAPA or another auto parts store and start throwing parts at it. You will quickly surpass the amount of money that the real fix will cost unless you really get investigative and diagnose the problem. If drivability is not a problem just wait for your appointment.
Wear pad “squeal” indicators tend to change noise when you turn the wheels, not stay a constant. And that noise should get worse with brake application, not better.
If the noise is the same whether you are going slow or fast then it isn’t related to the wheel spin at all. Probably not brake or wheel related. Maybe a belt or something unrelated.
Drive for 2 weeks or until failure. Please let us know what the problem really was.
The mystery deepens; got in the car today to head for work, pulled out, and no noise. Got rained on and drove home, no noise. I will be curious what tomorrow brings if I use the car and not the bike. I am thinking maybe ---- since it started after a bad rain/wind storm that some moisture got in the belt or a bearing and basically had to dry out. But if a belt, why go silent during breaking? Unless it was something in the power unit.
Oh well, if it starts again and goes long enough to be found, I may report back.
Just had a similar experience on my vehicle. Turned out to be a bad wheel bearing. Had all 4 changed, they were probably due with 110,000 mile on my vehicle. Would have done it myself but the bearings had to be pressed off and on, I sold my hydraulic press a couple years ago.
A standard test for wheel bearing noise is that it goes quiet when the brakes are applied. This is because the brakes stabilize the part(s) attached to the bearing’s inner race. I’d say a slightly loose bearing is the chief suspect.
One way to test wheel bearings is to spin the wheel (off the ground) while touching an adjacent suspension part (strut spring, if present, works great). It’s like having a stethoscope for your fingers. Even a small amount of roughness can be felt.