Hi all,

My car (Fiesta Flame 1.4L 2004) has developed an interesting humming noise when getting above speeds of 20 miles or more. Now before you suspect it being a wheel bearing issue, I have recently had 3 wheel bearings replaced 1 front and 2 on the rear, and not too long ago had its first MOT which passed with no advisories. Also had 4 brand new goodyear tyres fitted just before the MOT test. Now taking all this into account suspension is ok, no problems with drive shaft or cv joints etc. and having new wheel bearings fitted, the noise seems to be coming from the front wheels. I have come to the conclusion that all I can think could be causing it is imbalanced wheels even though tyres are only a few months old and had been balanced at time of fitting, steering wheel does start to wobble when getting to 70mph. Could it be a balancing issue??

I know I'm a bit late posting but I bet your tyres are out of shape. I believe there are quite a few Goodyear tyres that suffer from this. It can give a wheel beating type noise

Ah OK sounds like something that I am just going to have to live with. Never mind getting all four wheels balanced again tomorrow so it may help. to quite them down we shall see. Thanks anyway for the info, is it due to the fact they are rolled off the production line out of shape from new, or because of road surfaces, balacing issues etc??

If I've got my maths right, you've still got one wheel bearing that's not been changed...

It could well be tyres making the noise. I've had tyres on a few of my cars sound like wheel bearings going.

Well if it is a wheel bearing the only left to replace will be the o/s/f as that is the only left to change. It must be in its early stages if its about to go again, because like I have said recently had a MOT done and the other three wheel bearings have been replaced. Just annoying that I bought the car when everything needs replacing either due to it coming to the end of its life or age of the car! And this is a car that was regularly serviced at a ford garage as it says in the log book.

Had all four wheels re-balanced today. Solved the shaking steering wheel problem, and is more comfortable, but apparently the wheels are buckled so he put them at the back and best ones on the front. Now looking at the alloys I cannot see any buckle on the rims or alloy. The noise is still there which is like a beating noise mentioned. I'm now either putting this down to either tyres out of shape or could be that last wheel bearing is on its way out which is I am guessing will be (car done 46K) soon but until I hear the horrible whining noise of a wheel bearing shall not change it until then.