S2000 Under The Hood S2000 Technical and Mechanical discussions.

Howling sound from the rear. Need some help finding the issue.

Thread Tools
 
Old 12-04-2016, 08:12 AM
  #1  

Thread Starter
 
S2KCHRIS305's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Miami
Posts: 753
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default Howling sound from the rear. Need some help finding the issue.

Hey guys, Ive been noticing a howling or roaring sound from the rear lately. I noticed this while I was turbo charged and decided to change the tranny and diff fluid to see if it helps or if I can find some metal pieces that can show me signs that something is wrong. Changed the fluids and everything looks good, no metal, but noise is still there. Decided to let the noise be since it was not crazy loud, it was something you had to sit and listen for. I recently put the car back to stock and I can really hear the noise more now. My previous exhaust used to mask out alot of the sound.

The noise seems to be the worse at around 40mph. If im going slower or faster than this the noise is still there but not as bad as being in the 40 mph range. If I put the car in neutral and let it roll the noise seems to go away, but still to me the rear end seems a little louder than it should be.

Ive tried searching the threads for a similar issue, but nothing seems to sound like my situation. I dont have any kind of whinning sound, no vibrations, and shifts fine. The only things that I could think of is something wrong with the rear brakes, or maybe wheel bearing or hub damage. I am not sure.

The car is all stock except some Espelir lowering springs. What you guys think? Hopefully Billman can chime in on this one.
Old 12-04-2016, 08:17 AM
  #2  
Moderator

 
Billman250's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 22,004
Received 1,253 Likes on 763 Posts
Default

Wheel bearing.

Jack up the dif, spin each rear wheel fast by hand. One of them you'll hear roaring.
Old 12-04-2016, 08:48 AM
  #3  

Thread Starter
 
S2KCHRIS305's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Miami
Posts: 753
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Billman250
Wheel bearing.

Jack up the dif, spin each rear wheel fast by hand. One of them you'll hear roaring.
Thanks for the fast reply Billman,

I just tried this, jacked up the car by the diff and tried spinning each wheel by hand as fast as I can . I dont seem to hear roaring, i hear slight hissing (like if the brakes are slightly rubbing the rotor). I did notice something else though. When I rock the wheel back and forth there is a slight bang in the change of direction. When I look at the axle i see there is some play. it moves slightly on its own before it get the driveshaft to spin with him. Not sure if this is normal.

I think I would hear this more if I was able to spin the wheel in gear. Because when Im driving the car I hear the noise mostly when im in gear cruising. When i take it out of gear and let it roll in neutral the howling nearly goes away. If I go slower than 40 mph, or accelerating past it the noise also seem to go away, but in my opinion in every situation the rear end does seem a little louder than its supposed to be.
Old 12-05-2016, 05:33 PM
  #4  

Thread Starter
 
S2KCHRIS305's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Miami
Posts: 753
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Bump.
Old 12-05-2016, 07:09 PM
  #5  

 
darcyw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: um, a house
Posts: 4,221
Received 340 Likes on 277 Posts
Default

my experience is a howling- a howling that pervades thru the structure and seems to be piercing my brain at a given speed- is, as billman said, a wheel bearing. What helps me determine if its a wheel bearing for sure, is if my wife says- "man is your car loud on that side." or "I can't hear myself." or "what is wrong with your car?"

She'd love to go to Miami, so if you fly her down, she'll be able to help you out too.

Seriously, i also find if i very slightly drift from one side of a lane to another at the howling speed, then the pitch will change ever so slightly. I reason this happens because the bearing has more play in it hence changing the pitch of the noise. Wait till you press the bearing out and see how pitted the ball bearings are- its pretty incredible to see.

good luck!

​​​​​​​darcy
Old 12-11-2016, 09:17 PM
  #6  

Thread Starter
 
S2KCHRIS305's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Miami
Posts: 753
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by darcyw
my experience is a howling- a howling that pervades thru the structure and seems to be piercing my brain at a given speed- is, as billman said, a wheel bearing. What helps me determine if its a wheel bearing for sure, is if my wife says- "man is your car loud on that side." or "I can't hear myself." or "what is wrong with your car?"

She'd love to go to Miami, so if you fly her down, she'll be able to help you out too.

Seriously, i also find if i very slightly drift from one side of a lane to another at the howling speed, then the pitch will change ever so slightly. I reason this happens because the bearing has more play in it hence changing the pitch of the noise. Wait till you press the bearing out and see how pitted the ball bearings are- its pretty incredible to see.

good luck!

darcy
lol this was a great reply. Thank you. What gets me though, is that the sound seems to go away when rolling in neutral. If it were wheel bearings wouldn't it make the sound in neutral and in gear?
Old 12-11-2016, 09:18 PM
  #7  

Thread Starter
 
S2KCHRIS305's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Miami
Posts: 753
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Hoping billman can get back to this thread
Old 12-12-2016, 04:28 AM
  #8  

 
Slowcrash_101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,228
Received 405 Likes on 339 Posts
Default

It wouldn't make noise in neutral because the axleshafts are not loading the hub/wheel bearing. Also if you only hear the noise turning one way but not the other it's a wheel bearing. PS I'm in Miami, if you need any help getting that fixed let me know.
Old 12-12-2016, 07:32 PM
  #9  

 
B serious's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Illnoise. WAY downtown, jerky.
Posts: 8,111
Received 1,250 Likes on 946 Posts
Default

What kind of tyres do you have? Any cupping?
Old 12-12-2016, 07:52 PM
  #10  

 
afzan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Toronto
Posts: 3,604
Received 103 Likes on 85 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by B serious
What kind of tyres do you have? Any cupping?
I was going to suggest trying different wheels/tires but he said the noise goes away in neutral


Quick Reply: Howling sound from the rear. Need some help finding the issue.



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:56 AM.