In my 05 with 135k miles, when I am going in town speeds I hear a thumping sound in relation to the spinning wheels. As I slow down for a light ot stop sign it becomes more pronounced. Brand new set of Ecopias. It occurred before and after the new tires. Doesn't really seem to be any difference turning curves. But it feels like a flat place on a tire. Any thoughts? I had a similar thread maybe a month ago but I don't seem to be able to find it now. Thanks
Thanks Ed. Any special considerations in replacing the front wheel bearings in the Prius? Any idea of the expense?
Yeah, wheel bearings typically hum when bad. A thumping is normally associated with a tire but, its entirely possible that a high spot on the rotor could also be the cause. To determine if this is the case, find a place where you can drive backwards with one foot on the brake (ie a deserted parking lot) or a place that you can shift to neutral and stop slowly. The reason for this is regen braking is not used when in reverse or neutral. If its a high spot on the rotor, it will be heard at all speeds and get faster as speed increases. It should also either be more evident when the brake is applied or may become less evident. Either way, the brake will have an effect on how loud the sound is if its indeed a rotor. If its a tire, the sound won't be affected by application of the brakes (except for the noise obviously slowing down).
It does get louder at slower speeds, when coming to traffic stops, and feel it more in the seat the slower you go. It is noisy at higher speeds, just more noticeable at the slower speeds whether braking or not. But slower speeds it's definitely a thumping sound and can feel it in the seat.
I, too, have just purchased a set of Ecopia's and have experienced the same thing! It's not a hard thump, more like a soft thump that slows down when the car is coming to a stop. I would bet that it's the tires, not the car. I just thought that I had a persistent stone stuck in the tread!
When you say you replaced the tyres with a brand new set, does that mean 4 or 2. I'm guessing 4, but if it was just 2, then I would guess you have a big whopping screw stuck in one of the older tyres. If you bought 4 new tyres and it still makes the noise, then as others have said the wheel bearings are the place to look first.
When I lost my front drivers side wb is started to make a wup wup wup sound at specific speed. Wb's are kinda easy to figure out. Get on a road by yourself and then get in the middle of the road and then with the radio and ac off turn left or right quickly like your dodging something in the road and listen for the sound to change. if its louder turning into one direction its the tire your turning into. Another words if you turn left and the noise is worse its the right front wb.
