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Humming Sound from Wheels - not Bearings

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Old 11-06-2006, 01:05 PM
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04 CL55, 05 E500S4, 15 BMW i3 REx
Humming Sound from Wheels - not Bearings

Hey guys I have this loud humming sound (sounds like when you have a bad bearing) coming from my front wheels. I have just replaced the front wheel bearings, but the noise is still there. It is worth noting that I have Zimmerman cross-drilled rotors and Akebono ceramic pads, but I don't think the sound is brake related. In fact, when I push on the brake, the humming stops. Any idea what this could be from? Thanks
Old 11-13-2006, 07:00 PM
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any ideas?
Old 11-13-2006, 08:49 PM
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What kind of tires do you have?
Old 11-13-2006, 11:47 PM
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04 CL55, 05 E500S4, 15 BMW i3 REx
Originally Posted by mbtech360
What kind of tires do you have?
Dunlop SP Sport FM901s in front SP Sport MAXX's in the rear...could it be them?
Old 11-14-2006, 12:17 AM
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sounds like a tire...run your hand around the tread area and see if it feels choppy...check for cupping
Old 11-14-2006, 12:28 AM
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Originally Posted by 516mbtek
sounds like a tire...run your hand around the tread area and see if it feels choppy...check for cupping
+1
Old 11-14-2006, 01:37 AM
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except even when I had the stock wheels on the car, it made the noise...I just remembered that.
Old 11-14-2006, 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by 516mbtek
sounds like a tire...run your hand around the tread area and see if it feels choppy...check for cupping
I agree, sounds like a tire.

Take a look and see if it says GOODYEAR.
Old 11-14-2006, 06:07 PM
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It's not tires...when I had the stock wheels in between wheels, it still made the sound...
Old 11-15-2006, 12:59 AM
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'06 CLS55 P030
Originally Posted by lkchris
I agree, sounds like a tire.

Take a look and see if it says GOODYEAR.
lol
Old 11-15-2006, 01:07 AM
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'06 CLS55 P030
Check your tires anyway. Check ur brake install make sure the wheels spin free when jacked up---make sure backing plate isnt contact the rotor at any point, but I seriously doubt a brake issue---> Check your driveshaft tunnel insulation, make sure its not hanging down....if not that than its a bearing..change the bearings, inner and outer, make sure you pack them properly, change the RACES, and seals.

Last edited by 516mbtek; 11-15-2006 at 01:10 AM.
Old 11-15-2006, 03:16 AM
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dude whats up, i have the same humming sound i have the cross-drilled brembos. when you press on the brake it goes away right. its the air flowing through the rotors. i think there maybe a problem with the pads being to close to the rotors and causing the hummming sound on mine. just my 2 cents. upgrading front brakes to c32. see what happens
Old 11-15-2006, 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by sick430
dude whats up, i have the same humming sound i have the cross-drilled brembos. when you press on the brake it goes away right. its the air flowing through the rotors. i think there maybe a problem with the pads being to close to the rotors and causing the hummming sound on mine. just my 2 cents. upgrading front brakes to c32. see what happens
thanks for the heads up man! yeah the sound goes away when you press the brake. I was wondering if it could possibly be from the cross-drilled rotors...let me know!
Old 11-20-2006, 08:55 AM
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It's definitely the pad rotor combination. I say either go back OE or learn to live with it.
Old 11-20-2006, 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by 516mbtek
sounds like a tire...run your hand around the tread area and see if it feels choppy...check for cupping


I just removed a set of tires because of the same issue. My noise was speed related and changed with speed. It might be alignment causing the cupping. This has been a MAJOR issue with my E500. Jim
Old 11-20-2006, 01:46 PM
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Humming Wheels

When I first got my SL55 I thought for sure
it had a wheel bearing going. Just crappy Pirelli`s
making that noise. It was loud and you could feel it
through the brakes from about 5-20 MPH.
It seemed like it was serious issue. Or so I thought.
My SA said it was tires. He once again was correct.

Got new Michelin Pilots. No more Humming.
Old 11-20-2006, 08:57 PM
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The thing you guys are missing is tire noise doesn't go away when you touch the brake- its the holes in the rotors.
Old 11-20-2006, 10:12 PM
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'06 CLS55 P030
Originally Posted by MBTech21
The thing you guys are missing is tire noise doesn't go away when you touch the brake- its the holes in the rotors.
sometimes it seems like the (tire) noise goes away when hitting brakes cause the car slows mabe to a speed in which the noise dissipates...I have been a victim of this myself thinking its a brake issue when really a tire. This type of noise is 9 out of 10 times a tire in the real world...but then again this is MBworld so who knows. I have driven loads of cars w/ cross drilled rotors and never really heard any noises....but thats not saying its impossible....slotted rotors on the other hand thats a different story.
Old 11-20-2006, 10:21 PM
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Again,,,,he is not saying slowing down..he is saying touching the brakes..there is a difference. Brake noise comes from pad vibration..period, you touch the brakes, the calipers apply force, the vibration has to stop....like the old 'squealer' wear indicators. Could even be the ceramic face of the pad, vibrating off the drill holes, with out the proper vibration damper- it will make noise..
He even makes a point of saying..it made it with different wheels/tires on the car....and another guy with the same car/rotor combo had the same noise..hmm maybe we are beating this to death...
Old 11-20-2006, 10:46 PM
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'06 CLS55 P030
Originally Posted by MBTech21
Again,,,,he is not saying slowing down..he is saying touching the brakes..there is a difference. Brake noise comes from pad vibration..period, you touch the brakes, the calipers apply force, the vibration has to stop....like the old 'squealer' wear indicators. Could even be the ceramic face of the pad, vibrating off the drill holes, with out the proper vibration damper- it will make noise..
He even makes a point of saying..it made it with different wheels/tires on the car....and another guy with the same car/rotor combo had the same noise..hmm maybe we are beating this to death...
why dont you go over to his house, charge him $100, perform a road test with the client.... after which perform a complete veh inspection then make ur diagnosis? that may be easier?
Old 11-21-2006, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 516mbtek
why dont you go over to his house, charge him $100, perform a road test with the client.... after which perform a complete veh inspection then make ur diagnosis? that may be easier?

your point, young padua?
Old 12-05-2006, 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by bltserv
When I first got my SL55 I thought for sure
it had a wheel bearing going. Just crappy Pirelli`s
making that noise. It was loud and you could feel it
through the brakes from about 5-20 MPH.
It seemed like it was serious issue. Or so I thought.
My SA said it was tires. He once again was correct.

Got new Michelin Pilots. No more Humming.
Which Michelin tire and size did you get? I will be upgrading my existing wheels to 18" AMG alloys in a couple months and want a smooth riding and quiet tires. Summer tires are better than M&S tires for this I believe and Luke on the Tire tread here recommended Goodyear Eagles.

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