Humming coming from my 01 Boxster, any suggestions on what to look for

[pilot4fn]

Originally Posted by piper6909

Sounds like a wheel bearing to me. Hunting down which one is a bit tricky. You can try jacking the car up. For the front wheels, try spinning them by hand and see if it feels "crunchy." For the rear wheels, you'll have to run it in gear and listen for it. Just be damn sure you have the front wheels blocked well. If you have a friend who has a lift you can use, that would be the safest. Sometimes they develop some play in the wheel, (but not always) so you can check for any play by wiggling the wheel side to side and up and down.

If the engine RPM contributes no change to the sound, my bet is in the wheel bearing as above mentioned :dance:

[Gilles]

+ 1 on a wheel bearing.

If you can find a long downhill street (w/little traffic..) turn off the engine and let it roll :-)

While going downhill turn to the Right and see if the noise increases or goes away, if increases then it will be your left side bearing, and if you turn Left and the noise increases then would be the right side bearing.

Regardless, with the mileage you should replace them at once as the other ones are right behind.. The bearings are easy to replace but it's a bear of a job to do it (physically)..

[Jasper7821]

Found this video, kinda sounds the same. It does sound like it may be a wheel bearing. I guess if it is and turning the wheel would tell me if if it’s in the front right? No sound difference when turning the wheel would mean it’s the rear? I went through the records that are pretty complete from new and don’t see the wheel bearings ever been changed. I see axles removed and new CV boots a few years ago.


https://youtu.be/UpsLaSzcAu4

Originally Posted by Gilles

+ 1 on a wheel bearing.

If you can find a long downhill street (w/little traffic..) turn off the engine and let it roll :-)

While going downhill turn to the Right and see if the noise increases or goes away, if increases then it will be your left side bearing, and if you turn Left and the noise increases then would be the right side bearing.

Regardless, with the mileage you should replace them at once as the other ones are right behind.. The bearings are easy to replace but it's a bear of a job to do it (physically)..

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Jasper7821

Found this video, kinda sounds the same. It does sound like it may be a wheel bearing. I guess if it is and turning the wheel would tell me if if it’s in the front right? No sound difference when turning the wheel would mean it’s the rear? I went through the records that are pretty complete from new and don’t see the wheel bearings ever been changed. I see axles removed and new CV boots a few years ago.


https://youtu.be/UpsLaSzcAu4

Jasper, when you turn to the right (a hard long turn IF possible), you will put the load on the left side bearings and you will know if it's a front or a rear one.

[Jasper7821]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Jasper, when you turn to the right (a hard long turn IF possible), you will put the load on the left side bearings and you will know if it's a front or a rear one.

Thank you, I’ll try when I get home and and see if I get any results.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Jasper7821

Thank you, I’ll try when I get home and and see if I get any results.

Please remember that this 'technique..' only works with the engine off, rolling downhill :-)
good luck!

[Jasper7821]

Did the test and it is not coming from the front, turning the wheel at speed both ways made no difference.

Originally Posted by Gilles

+ 1 on a wheel bearing.

If you can find a long downhill street (w/little traffic..) turn off the engine and let it roll :-)

While going downhill turn to the Right and see if the noise increases or goes away, if increases then it will be your left side bearing, and if you turn Left and the noise increases then would be the right side bearing.

Regardless, with the mileage you should replace them at once as the other ones are right behind.. The bearings are easy to replace but it's a bear of a job to do it (physically)..

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Jasper7821

Did the test and it is not coming from the front, turning the wheel at speed both ways made no difference.

Jasper, regarding your driving test were you able to hold the steering wheel for a moment or so, to allow you to load the bearings?

If your wheel bearings are ok, the only other thing to check are the CV joints...

[Jasper7821]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Jasper, regarding your driving test were you able to hold the steering wheel for a moment or so, to allow you to load the bearings?

If your wheel bearings are ok, the only other thing to check are the CV joints...

I live close to the base of a mountain, so I went downhill straight from 40-70mph and jerked the wheel both directions and no difference. Then I went on a twisty road and drove a few miles fairly hard with holding the wheel steady on the curves and still no difference in sound.
So I think it’s definitely in the rear. Any way to check if it’s the CV joints. And the boots were changed a few years ago.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Jasper7821

I went downhill straight from 40-70mph and jerked the wheel both directions and no difference.

Jasper,

I am sorry, English is my second language, and perhaps was not very clear on my comments...

I noticed that you mentioned 'jerked the wheel' and what I meant about loading the bearing is by turning the wheel hard to one side but for a few seconds (not just momentary), similar to carving a wide turn with giant slalom skis.. this is when you can increase (and hear) the humming noise from a bearing
.