Hey guys,

I know this has been asked before, I've had a look around the forum... but I can't see anything that really answers my question.

I've got a slight mechanical drone (it doesn't sound 'gruff', but a bit annoying) when I get above 30mph (ish). It's not very loud, I have to turn stereo/blowers off and concentrate to hear it.

I'm not sure how long it's been there... and my first suspicion was wheel bearing, but it's been like it now for a couple of months and it's not changed... I would have suspected a wheel bearing would get steadily louder (this is the impression I get from the forum). Plus, I had it in to Fiat recently to fix a rattle I'd been unable to remove... I would have suspected they'd checked for play in the wheels when they had it (but perhaps not?).

Anyway, is there anything obvious it could be that I'm missing, or should I just submit the car back to them again?

Ta, James

It can be a worn bearing for sure, without any notable play....!
Modern bearings consist of two rows of rollerballs, and in most cases just one row goes bad, you can drive for many miles before the other goes...!!

My guess in this case: cupped tires, aka "sawtooth" tread.
Feel with your bare hands around the tire, AGAINST driving direction, specially on the inside of the tread, if it feels like a....eh.., sawtooth, that will cause a noise similar to a worn bearing.