Revolving sound from rear wheel?

[Sil80m3]

Hi everyone,

On my 325i sedan, whenever i drive, there is a rotating or revolving sound from the rear passenger wheel well.

It sounds like the axle is rubbing while its turning.

I can hear it when i go any speed, starting at like 20 mph, and even while im on the freeway at around 65 (of course it sounds like its rotating much faster at higher speeds)

Anyone have this before?
My friend suggested wheel bearings, but i have no clue.




Also, when i start my car up, there is a high pitched squealing sound... I believe this is one of the belts which needs to be tightened, am i right?
The sound goes away after about 5 minutes of driving.

Thanks in advance,
Zac

[Tefal]

the belt needs replacing. u cant tighten it as its done by a automatic tensioner(auxiliary belt). the ac belt can b tightened though

[Tefal]

If u jack up the back of the car and support it on stands firmly, u can get a friend to drive the car while u have a listen. sounds like it will b a wheel bearing

[Sil80m3]

Alright, thanks for the info.

[Julian]

Sounds like a wheel bearing to me, the part itself is pretty cheap, but its a bitch to replace.

[paniolo]

Rear end noise will probably be a wheel bearing ... cheap part, lots of labor. Search multiple threads on diy

Start up whine ... does it instantly go away a few minutes after start up? Sounds like your secondary air pump is on it's last legs. Part of emissions control, no impact on engine, but will throw a CEL and prevent you passing inspection. Again search, but make sure you change the valve as that is what allowed moisture into the pump that is killing it. Several hundred in parts and very little labor.

[Sil80m3]

Thanks for the help guys, ill see what i can do about the bearing.

As for the whine, i believe that it is a belt, it sounds like it anyway.
Ill have some friends take a look at it.

Also, another problem: when im going maybe 40 or so, then take my foot off the gas, my rpms will go from like 1 then up to 2, then back down to 1, over and over until i reach about 20 mph.. If i accelerate again, the weird idle goes away.

Any clues to what this is?

[98red318i]

sounds like you own my car. i just had the bearings replaced, cost about 350ish. labor is intense i guess. as for the squeeling, my secondary pump was filled with water, drained it and it still squeeks. so id just replace the pump, which costs about 320ish. no impact on the car though, id save it just before inspection.

[IslandmanPA]

Wheel bearing typically has a grinding sound when they go bad. Tires that are cupped can make odd noises too!

[Maj.Malfunction]

What about a dust shield rubbing the rotor?

[Sil80m3]

Any way to be certain that its the wheel bearing before i go out and get it fixed? The shop near me is gonna charge $50 just to diagnose =/.


Also, the squeaking at startup seems to happen a lot less, only when i start it up after school (maybe because its sitting in the sun and gets hot)

Thanks

[Sil80m3]

Anyone know symptoms of a bad wheel bearing?

[Doug001]

Anyone know symptoms of a bad wheel bearing?
Rumble or grinding sound that gets louder and/or changes pitch as you accelerate/decelerate. Common problem - had both of my rear bearings replaced a few thousand miles ago.

Nice ride. ;)

[Sil80m3]

Hmm....
Mine is more like a rotating after 15mph all the way up. It gets faster as i accelerate, but it doesnt sound like its going the same speed as the wheel.

It doesnt seem to change pitch though, just seems like somethings rubbing, or my alignment is off or something =/.

And thanks!

[seeocoee]

well i had that kind of noise until i replaced my wheel bearings. Jack the car up and first see if the wheel is loose, if its loose almost definitely wheel bearing. If its not losse spin it. Is it loud sounding? again prob wheel bearing. Does the car vibrate when you drive? possibly a u-joint. U-joints make all kinds of strange noises when they go bad.

[sanantonioch]

Thanks for the help guys, ill see what i can do about the bearing.

As for the whine, i believe that it is a belt, it sounds like it anyway.
Ill have some friends take a look at it.

Also, another problem: when im going maybe 40 or so, then take my foot off the gas, my rpms will go from like 1 then up to 2, then back down to 1, over and over until i reach about 20 mph.. If i accelerate again, the weird idle goes away.

Any clues to what this is?

I have this same problem, still trying to find out what it is.

[Hess]

If when turning on a bend in the road does the noise go away (or get worse)? It should go away when in a bend in one direction or the other. That'll also tell you which one it is.

[Russ[]]

I have a sound coming from the back left of my car. It's like a squeak, every wheel rotation. Wheel Bearing?

[TheCurtMichael]

Depending on how the bearing racers are actually wearing, you can check for wheel bearing failure by removing all the load on the wheel by jack up the rear and checking for play. If you have play you have a serious problem. Replace that bearing STAT! Either get the proper tooling to do so or take it to a mechanic. Good luck!

[lorkar]

I've seen this on several bimmers. Yes maybe the wheel bearing . The last few times it was the parking brake. The hold down spring for the shoe pulled through the backing plate and it rubs on the inside of the rotor housing. Jack it up pull the tire and rotor off and check it out. Only take a half hr to look and see. The wheel bearing is a bitch to change but worth the money saved in labor.

[Sil80m3]

I've seen this on several bimmers. Yes maybe the wheel bearing . The last few times it was the parking brake. The hold down spring for the shoe pulled through the backing plate and it rubs on the inside of the rotor housing. Jack it up pull the tire and rotor off and check it out. Only take a half hr to look and see. The wheel bearing is a bitch to change but worth the money saved in labor.

Ooh, i think it could have something to do with the parking brake.

When i bought it, the parking brake didnt hold at all. It was making the sound at this time.

I tightened the ebrake cables, and it now holds, but it still makes the sound.

Will check when i get a chance, thanks


And for the other people who offered suggestions:
Noise doesnt change/stop/increase when i make a turn, which leads me to believe it isnt the wheel bearing
Its not a squeak, its like something is rubbing on the wheel

[paniolo]

Noise doesnt change/stop/increase when i make a turn, which leads me to believe it isnt the wheel bearing
Its not a squeak, its like something is rubbing on the wheel

Mine didn't make any changes in noise turning etc. It was just a low pitched rumbling noise from the rear that would very gradually increase with speed. With time it got louder and occured at lower speeds. It was a rear wheel bearing.

I've also seen the ebrake spring, it made more of a metallic scraping noise.

[Sil80m3]

Mine didn't make any changes in noise turning etc. It was just a low pitched rumbling noise from the rear that would very gradually increase with speed. With time it got louder and occured at lower speeds. It was a rear wheel bearing.

I've also seen the ebrake spring, it made more of a metallic scraping noise.


Oh ok, it doesnt sound metallic.

Its a low rumble or rotating sound.


Ill try and check anyway for the ebrake, if not, ill get the wheel bearing changed

[DP57]

I know someone already said this, but it sounds like you own my car too! I have heard this low-speed, low frequency sound as well. Almost like the vibrations of your hand when you rub it over wet glass. It's only when you're turning. If my car wasn't also making this sound I'd say wheel bearings too, but I've since replaced mine and the sound was the same before and after.

My e-brake also had the exact same symptoms, but I never thought of it rubbing, maybe I'll need to check that. My most recent thought was to check the diff.

Before you take it to the shop and spend several hundred, just by the $250 bearing puller from bav auto--I can't even tell you how much you need this for the rear wheels. Unless you're one of the few, and I do mean few, lucky ones that have been able to hammer/pull this part with make-shift tools, you will be working on this for the rest of your life. Puller takes like 15 minutes in and out.

Edit: ...However, despite recommending the puller, I don't know that I'm sure it's your bearings...hmmm