Abnormal tyre noise or is it?

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Abnormal tyre noise or is it?

redetris

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Hello good people,

On one snowy night this winter, I took a sharp corner too fast and my 500L MPW skidded and the front left wheel hit the kerb with some force, as the car was turning (and skidding). Based on the sound and the impact (and the fact that I was turning), I believe the impact was the alloy wheel against the kerb (sideways), NOT rubber tyre hitting the kerb.

Visual inspection shows no damage to the tyre or suspension (though I'm far from expert in car suspension). There are some marks/gashes on the alloy wheel, but hard to be sure that they weren't there before. Driving the car poses no problem, in fact I drove 300+ miles trip with it last week. However, there are two things that bug me:
1. There is this rythmic, periodic noise coming from the tyre that wasn't there before.
2. The steering wheel is off slighly to the right.

My suspicion is problem with the wheel alignment, but I thought I just check with expert opiniions here before I spend £50 on wheel alignment.

Ideas/advise/recommendation, please? Thanks in advance!
 
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Wheel alignment is not the correct fix, although it will be needed as the last part of any fix. Something is bent, which is now causing your steering wheel to be offset, so the bent component needs identifying and replacing. Probably the steering track rod on that side, but the bottom arm needs checking too, as does the arm on the strut that the steering track rod connects to.

The rhythmic noise could be a wheel bearing, having created dents in the tracks at point of impact, or could be the driveshaft. Could be tyre, if the impact was not straight on its side, check for bulges or soft spots.

No matter how slow the impact, there was the whole weight of the car behind it.
 
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My suspicion is also with the wheelbearing.. not an uncommon occurrence from side.on impacts :(

My mj had hit a kerb hard enough to buckle the steel wheel.. so when I bought it the steering rack had enough play in to Knock.. a new rack was fitted

For your own satisfaction

Swap that suspect alloy with the opposite corner of the car

If the noise moved.. its the wheel: tyre

If it stays in the area of impact.. its the wheelbearing ;)

Get a garage to inspect the area for play..and damage

Swapping rod ball joints will naturally change 'alignment'..
So it will not be immediately obvious what was 'at fault'


Do let us know what is found :)
 
It was the wheel bearing! The rythmic humming noise was unmistakable and thanks to you both, I went ahead and bought a wheel bearing and get my garage to fit it and it's now fine, the noise is gone although the steering wheel is still off centre, as I haven't had the alignment done yet.

My mechanic says that other steering bits and joints are fine, but I was just thinking though, wouldn't the force from the side impact be transferred to other steering component(s) as well, possibly causing bent there? Driving the car feels fine, and I'm probably a bit paranoid here, but I just want to anticipate potential future problems.

Thanks again to you both!
 
Good tha one thing is sorted.

The wheel offset is evidence that something is not right. Rapid tyre wear will result.
Steerign track rod and lower suspension arm need careful checking for correct shape. Often this can be difficult, as comparing with teh other side is difficult as you can't place them side-by-side. Some careful checking with a simple tape measure or ruler could determine the problem, but needs sorting sooner rather than later. Don't just get an alignment, make sure the bent component is identified.
 
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