Whirring Noise From Wheel

[matt1982]

Hi guys great forum you have here!

I have had a search and not found anything concrete about my issue. So I am going to post. If there is a post already I do apologise and feel free to point me in the right direction.

My problem:

I have a 2008 RX400h which i love. I have had it over one year now and it doesn't miss a beat.  There is however a whirring noise coming from either the drivers front or rear wheel. It appears at random times and doesn't always stay for long. Sometimes however it can be on for a while. Sort of a whirring/light groaning noise but its not constantly on. I have tried to wind the window down however it doesn't seem to make it any easier to hear.

I was wondering if it was a wheel baring but I have no idea how to check and it doesnt seem to get any worse etc so not sure if its something todo with the hybrid drive.

Any ideas would be greatly received.

Thanks in advance.

 

Matthew

[Lydiamight]

Common fault with RX400H, especially one that it ten years old, is the seizure or partial seizure of the slide pins in the rear brake callipers. This could cause the rear pads pads to rub on the discs and could give the occaisional whirring noise that you mentioned.

Don't go to a main dealer as they will want to replace the whole of the rear callipers at vast expense. Either go to a specialist who will remove, clean and re-grease the slide pins or have ago at doing it yourself. It's not too difficult---search youtube for "lexus slide pins" and you will find a number of videos showing you how to do it.

[SLACKBLADDER]

The way to see if you have a bearing problem  first is does it change tone on cornering ie pressure on the bearing  or jack each wheel and do wobble test

[matt1982]

9 hours ago, Lydiamight said:

Common fault with RX400H, especially one that it ten years old, is the seizure or partial seizure of the slide pins in the rear brake callipers. This could cause the rear pads pads to rub on the discs and could give the occaisional whirring noise that you mentioned.

Don't go to a main dealer as they will want to replace the whole of the rear callipers at vast expense. Either go to a specialist who will remove, clean and re-grease the slide pins or have ago at doing it yourself. It's not too difficult---search youtube for "lexus slide pins" and you will find a number of videos showing you how to do it.

Ahh many thanks I will take a look at this and take it from there!

 

[matt1982]

9 hours ago, SLACKBLADDER said:

The way to see if you have a bearing problem  first is does it change tone on cornering ie pressure on the bearing  or Jack each wheel and do wobble test

I will be doing the wobble test this weekend to see what is happening.

 

I stupidly forgot to mention that it did get serviced recently by LexTek autos in Sheffield (Who was great by the way if you are wanting someone to service your lexus). So i would of thought a Wheel Bearing would of been ok. You never know though could of just got worse.

 

[rayaans]

Wheel bearings tend to make noise when turning, not really on the straight.

Commonest cause of the washing machine noise is budget tyres

[matt1982]

They are all Pirelli P-Zero is it. Its intermittent so not too sure i think if it was the tyres it would be more constant perhaps?  I will check the slide pins this weekend and also bearings and report back the findings.

 

Many thanks for the help so far.

 

[rayaans]

2 hours ago, matt1982 said:

They are all Pirelli P-Zero is it. Its intermittent so not too sure i think if it was the tyres it would be more constant perhaps?  I will check the slide pins this weekend and also bearings and report back the findings.

 

Many thanks for the help so far.

 

They can cause intermittent noises depending on frequencies 

I had a car with Sunny tyres on a few years back and it would only make the odd washing machine noises at certain speeds and on certain roads, not all the time

[welland]

11 hours ago, rayaans said:

Wheel bearings tend to make noise when turning, not really on the straight.

Commonest cause of the washing machine noise is budget tyres

i've an intermittent noise at the front which may be a wheel bearing.  If it is a wheel bearing, is it possible to determine which wheel is the origin according to which turn direction causes the sound?  Mine mostly happens on slight left corners (The kind of slight turn made to stay within a lane on the motorway). 

[matt1982]

15 hours ago, rayaans said:

They can cause intermittent noises depending on frequencies 

I had a car with Sunny tyres on a few years back and it would only make the odd washing machine noises at certain speeds and on certain roads, not all the time

That actually might make sense i do seem to remember the noise after i had either a tyre change or a puncture plugged. Gonna check everything out this weekend and have a look see what I find. 

Thanks for the reply :)

 

 

[Rutlandlex]

Hi Matthew.  Do you hear the noise at speed?  The one I've just bought made a noise at speed on the test drive that sounded like a washing machine at full spin without the whiny bit.  That turned out to be the front O/S/F brake caliper.  The previous owner changed both front calipers for refurbed Pagid ones from Euro Car Parts and it's fine now.  Not sure if yours is the same problem but just thought I'd tell you about my experience.

[matt1982]

19 hours ago, Rutlandlex said:

Hi Matthew.  Do you hear the noise at speed?  The one I've just bought made a noise at speed on the test drive that sounded like a washing machine at full spin without the whiny bit.  That turned out to be the front O/S/F brake caliper.  The previous owner changed both front calipers for refurbed Pagid ones from Euro Car Parts and it's fine now.  Not sure if yours is the same problem but just thought I'd tell you about my experience.

Ahh thanks Rutlandlex i will take a looks and see. It could be something like that. It comes on usually around the 40mph mark. Perhaps when im going faster it could be there but other noises drown it out etc. 

Slightly annoying as i love how quite the machine is just this whirring noise spoiling it all!

[rayaans]

Any update on this?

Just to add to this - its not the hybrid motor whine which comes on when lifting off the throttle for regen is it?

[matt1982]

Hey Rayaans 

Sadly i didnt get chance to look at this over the weekend Im going to try this week all being well.

No i dont think it is i know that while and the one happening on my car is a deeper noise.

Matthew