Thruming noise when moving - C5 Mk 2 estate, 2.0 Hdi

[Philjw]

Hi,
The C5 has developed a thrumming noise which sounds like it's running on square wheels. The noise appears to come from the N/S front. It becomes noticable at around 35 mph and gets worse with speed. It's worse when cornering. The car has now done 103 K. I've changed the front discs and pads and recently cleaned the corrosion from the rear.
I can't find any play in either drop link or front wheel bearings.
Front tyres are on the way out with about 3mm tread but no obvious faults. Tried the spare on the N/S front with no change in the noise.
What do you all think may be causing the noise? I'm getting fed up with it!

[Paul-R]

a thrumming noise ... It's worse when cornering.

That's a wheel bearing. To my ear it sounds a bit like a prop engined aeroplane - would you agree?

I used to say that you could tell which side was affected by seeing if it got worse when turning in to a bend and better when turning the other way but I had one go on a car and it was the opposite side of the car to what I thought. It was the inner bearing though, so maybe that makes the noise the opposite way to the outer bearing.

[Philjw]

Hi Paul-R and thanks for the quick response.
Yes your description of the sound as a propellor would work
Would you expect to be able to feel play in the bearing? I could find none when trying to move the jacked up wheel. There is no grinding or noise when turning the wheel by hand.
I haven't noticed that the noise is worse when turning one way or the other. I'll have to listen more carefully.

[Xsarahdi]

I can't say I felt any play in a duff wheel bearing on my Xsara, just made the noise you describe.

[Philjw]

Thanks Xsara HDi
Anyone have any idea what a main dealer would charge to replace the bearings?

[Paul-R]

I explained it poorly when I said turning one way and then the other.

What I meant was that when you're going round, say, a left hand bend you're putting more weight onto the LH wheel bearings; going roound a RH bend takes the weight off.

[myglaren]

Thanks Xsara HDi
Anyone have any idea what a main dealer would charge to replace the bearings?

Any competent mechanic should be able to change the wheel bearings for a much lower cost than the dealer.
Competent being the sticking point.
There are a couple of horror stories involving the less than competent breed of mechanic on the forum at the moment.
Get a quote from the dealer and from at least one independent that is recommended.

If you tell us where you live (approximately) then someone may be able to recommend someone if you don't have one in mind.

Note that not all dealers are as good as they ought to be (although some are) but will charge you the same, good or otherwise.

[RichardW]

Dealer cost?

Well, the bearing is £108 from Citroen Add onto that at least 2 hours labour at dealer rates (£80 / hr inc VAT say?) and you are looking at £250 - £300 .

When we did the clutch on my mate's C5 II there was no speed sensor on the gearbox, which suggests that the speedo gets its signal from the ABS sensor - and this looked to be the type that is closely associated with the wheel bearing, so some care in removing / refitting the bearing is likely required -and it might be a special bearing too.

[john alexander]

Hi I got my C5 est front bearing changed last year for £ 75 at my local garage , nice and quiet now.

[Philjw]

Well I thought I would ask what the dealers would take - ouch!
I'm near Chelmsford in Essex if anyone knows a decent local outfit I'd be happy to hear from you.
I'm a bit put off doing the job myself by the recommendation for the use of an 8 ton hydraulic press in the BOL.

[john alexander]

The reason I put mine in to get done was I replaced the front bearing on my xantia the year before , nightmare job and just as noisy afterwards. At the price quoted it was a no brainer .

[Philjw]

I had the nearside front bearing done by a local french specialist indy today.
I made the right choice not to attempt the job myself as he reckoned this was the worst he has done and needed 12 tonnes of pressure to extract the old bearing.
There was a pit 1 centimetre long by 2mm deep in the inner race which was clearly responsible for the noise.
First time I've used the mechanic - Evans Motors in Lexden on the outskirts of Colchester. Seemed OK and not too pricey. The bill was around £177 which included a track rod end.

[Paul-R]

Glad to hear the problem's been fixed.

he reckoned this was the worst he has done

Nah - that's got to be the rear brake calipers when the mounting bolts seize and the caliper starts bending out of shape!