The drone becomes a rumble...

[Ridgerunner]

...and I have no idea where my earlier thread went. So here we go again...

That droning sound that seemed to appear after I tightened up the heat shield with a hose clamp? It was recommended that I try rotating the tires....so when I went in for an oil change today, I did just that. Plus I had the clamp removed on the hunch that it was somehow causing the wierd resonance that I was experiencing. While it was up on the rack, I did notice a slight amount of wear on the outside right front; perhaps I need a re-alignment. Anyway, down off the rack it comes and off I go, and...
....what the heck???!!!! Now it sounds like I have concrete tires in the front! There is a low frequency roar coming from underneath the front. Before the rotation, I had an oscillation coming from the BACK! So it's the tires? They are balanced, and do not shake the wheel or pull when I remove my hands from the wheel for a few seconds. I am at a complete loss to know what is going on, but the noise is terrible. The only similar sound I have ever heard was when a rear wheel bearing was going on my SVX, but this sound seems to follow a set of wheels, so that can't be it.....

:huh: Don

[Bluetoy]

Run your hand around the inside tread of the front (previously on the rear) tires. I'm 100% certain you'll find they are worn funny (cupped). Exact problem I had. That causes nasty noises but no real vibration in the wheel.

[Ridgerunner]

Bluetoy,
I had the Focus aligned this spring, so either they screwed something up, or I knocked something askew.

What causes cupping....camber? Toe in? :wtf:

Don

[Bluetoy]

Seems to be a Focus problem. I had mine aligned after I lowered it and still got cupping. I don't know what causes cupping but lots of people have this problem.

['02_pocket_rocket]

I just had the same problem. Ended up replacing a tire. Of course it wasn't covered because it was an alignment problem. Had it aligned also. But the dealer did have a decent price on the tire after checking around on prices.

[Ridgerunner]

Well this doesn't sound good.....if I invest in new tires and a new alignment.....they still might get cupped?

I keep my air pressure checked.....what am I (we) doing wrong?

Puzzled in West Virginia......Don

[Black SVT Focus]

Sounds to me like your doing every thing you should be. I have the exact same problem with my car. Unfortunatly I had to replace 2 of my tires already. Since MY dealer couldn't find me even close to a good deal on tires I bought 2 different kinds of tires for now. Bad news is that the conti's seem more resistant to alingment problems than the Falken's I put on after them. No visible or felt cupping on any of them but after 1200km. my Falken's are really showing signs of cupping.

Taking it in for alignment, but I am also making sure they warranty any parts connected to the frickin alignment. I don't want to be putting tires on my car every 12,000 km just cause THEY (ford) can't get the alignment right! :mad:

[quicksilver]

OK guys.....some tire education from an old guy who has worn out many. Cupping is not always due to alignment problems or other mechanical issues. Frequently, it is due to aggressive driving...but, surely, none of us do that in these cars.

I've got 15K on my OEM Conti's, have rotated 3 times, have had one 4 wheel alignment. Nevertheless, I've got some cupping on the edges. I drive 42 miles one way to work every day on some twisty roads....it's fun, but is hard on the shoes. I have same problem on the Michelin X-Ones on my Taurus Wagon.....if I drive it much, the tires wear unevenly due to the roads I drive and the way I drive.....

You may have some alignment issues but maybe not.....either way, drive on and have fun.......it's only money.:tmb:

[jprill]

mine are noisey too. I think that they are just driven too hard and I need to save money for a fresh set. Hmmm. Potenzas, Kumhos, Falkens, P-Zeroes, Goodyear F1's, Toyos, Yokos...

[Ridgerunner]

I had an alignment done this spring after replacing a bent wheel (Interstate pothole). Now my tires are ruined after 13k miles.
I go to start the car this morning to go to work and.....3 grand!....hey, the old high idle is back! Cool....I have the RLA6 done to stop the high idle, and I get lunging AND the return of the original problem to boot! :mad:

If the car is aligned and the tires are properly inflated and rotated (yes to all the above) and mountain driving (and I don't drive THAT aggressively) wears the tires that quickly, then maybe I need to downsize to 16 in wheels and tires with more meat on them (sidewalls). I have never had anything like this happen with Triumphs, MG's, Civics. Suzukis, or my two Subarus.....all of which had 14/15/or 16 in wheels.

Don