“I hear a thud at high speed, but… Is this road noise? Or vibration?”
In a common consultation at Volkswagen, it is difficult to determine which problem is caused by “sound” and “shaking” at the same time.
Depending on the type of tire, road surface, and undercarriage condition, road noise may feel like vibration, and conversely, vibration may be heard as a “sound”.
In this article, we have summarized the points to distinguish between noise and shaking and the common causes in an easy-to-understand manner.
▼Driving problem diagnosis guide▼
👉Comprehensive summary of causes of poor running
- Common symptoms
- There are four main causes (by structure)
- Cause (1): Road noise of tire pattern and flatness ratio (normal sound, but sometimes strong)
- Cause (2): Cases where “sound feels like vibration” due to uneven wear and step reduction
- Cause (3): Cases where “vibration can be heard as sound” due to poor wheel balance
- Cause (4): “Gurgling sound + micro-vibration” due to hub bearing deterioration
- Points that can be checked in DIY
- Is it okay to drive? (Urgency)
- Approximate repair cost
- Related parts to check at the same time
- Conclusion
- Defect details by vehicle type
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common symptoms
- At high speed, the sound of “go” and “rumbling” is loud
- Sometimes the sound feels like vibration
- Symptoms vary depending on the road surface
- It got worse after changing tires
- As the speed increases, the sound and shaking become proportionally louder
- It hardly bothers me at low speeds
There are four main causes (by structure)
- Road noise due to tire pattern and flatness ratio (normal sound)
- Cases where “sound can be heard as vibration” due to uneven wear and step of tires
- Cases where “vibration can be heard as sound” due to poor wheel balance
- “G-oh sound + micro-vibration” due to hub bearing deterioration
Cause (1): Road noise of tire pattern and flatness ratio (normal sound, but sometimes strong)
When does it happen?
- When I changed to new tires, the sound increased.
- Put in high grip and sports tires
- Flattening ratio has decreased
Why do I have symptoms?
The groove pattern of the tire and the hardness of the rubber can cause a louder friction noise with the road surface.
- Sports tires have high straight-line stability but are louder
- Low flat tires are easy to pick up roughness on the road surface
- “Gurgling sound” increases on road surfaces such as drain ditches
If the sound is constant and not accompanied by shaking, it is often road noise.
If left unattended?
- No problem (normal sound)
- If you are concerned, you can improve by changing the tire brand
Cause (2): Cases where “sound feels like vibration” due to uneven wear and step reduction
When does it happen?
- The sound of “rumbling” and “won-won”
- Slightly vibration is transmitted to the steering wheel
- Rotated tires that were declining → back and front
Why do I have symptoms?
When the tires are degraded,
the ground becomes uneven with each rotation, and the sound can be transmitted “like vibration”.
- Caused by height difference between blocks
- The sound gets louder at high speeds and feels like it’s shaking
- In particular, VW has a stiff suspension and is prone to symptoms
If left unattended?
- The step is getting worse
- Loss of stability at high speeds
- Tire replacement may be required
Cause (3): Cases where “vibration can be heard as sound” due to poor wheel balance
When does it happen?
- Sound and shaking come out at the same time after changing tires
- Symptoms peaking at 80-100 km/h
- The handle is slightly bubbly
Why do I have symptoms?
When the wheel balance is misaligned, there is a slight vibration at high speed.
The vibration can also be heard as a sound such as “go” or “buzz”.
In particular, it is more likely to occur in the following situations:
- The balance weight is off
- Individual differences in tires
- Misalignment of centering (slight deviation of bolting)
The shaking + sound set is typical of poor balance.
If left unattended?
- Increased vibration
- Increasing wear on the undercarriage
- Tires wear unevenly
Cause (4): “Gurgling sound + micro-vibration” due to hub bearing deterioration
When does it happen?
- The “go sound” becomes louder in proportion to the vehicle speed.
- Sound changes when curved
- Even if you run straight, there is a small vibration
Why do I have symptoms?
When the hub bearing wears,
the rotating shaft rattles slightly, which manifests itself as friction + microvibration.
- Go sound
- Coro sound
- Subtle steering wheel vibration
It is often overlooked because it is similar to road noise,
but bearing deterioration is strictly prohibited.
If left unattended?
- Bearing Breakage
- The entire hub needs to be replaced
- As wear progresses, it may become undrivable.
Points that can be checked in DIY
- Is the sound “constant” or “changing”?
- Does the sound change when the road surface changes?
- Does the size of the shaking change when the accelerator is turned on/off?
- Does the sound get louder when curved?
- Tire degradation (there is a feeling of wavy when touched by hand)
- Checking for missing wheel balance weights
Is it okay to drive? (Urgency)
| Status | Urgency | Is it possible to drive? |
|---|---|---|
| No shaking only with sound (road noise) | low | Drive OK |
| Suspicion of stepping (sound + slight vibration) | Medium | Early inspection |
| Suspected imbalance (sound + bulbul) | High | High speed driving is not allowed |
| Possible bearing degradation | Very high | Immediate inspection (continuous driving is not allowed) |
You can scroll
When a driving problem occurs, it may be necessary to tow the truck depending on the situation.
In these cases, it may be covered by road assistance or riders of automobile insurance, so it is safe to lightly review the contents of your current contract.
If you may not have a proper understanding of the coverage, you can use a comparison service to check the coverage details and premiums of multiple companies at once. Since you can get a complete picture in a short time, many people use it for repairs and inspections.
👉 Free Car Insurance Bulk Quote Service
Approximate repair cost
| Work Description | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Wheel balancing | 2,000 to 5,000 yen/bottle |
| Alignment Adjustment | 10,000 to 20,000 yen |
| Tire Change | 40,000 to 100,000 yen |
| Hub Bearing Replacement | 20,000 to 40,000 yen |
| Diagnosis fee | 5,000 to 10,000 yen |
You can scroll
👉Summary of maintenance and custom costs & working days of VW specialty store Nile Plus
Related parts to check at the same time
- Tire degradation and uneven wear
- Wheel Balance
- Hub Bearings
- Undercarriage bushing
- Alignment
- Hub Surface Condition
▼List of individual pages about undercarriage repair and maintenance▼
You can scroll
Conclusion
Road noise and vibration seem to be similar, but they are completely different phenomena.
If the sound is constant, road noise, and if the sound and shaking are set, uneven wear, poor balance, and bearings are suspected.
It is important to check early, especially if it is accompanied by shaking at high speeds.
If you feel any discomfort, we recommend checking it as soon as possible for safety.
Even if the symptoms are similar, the causes vary from vehicle to vehicle.
Even if there are similar abnormal noises and malfunctions, there are various causes such as turbo belts and sensors.
If you are unsure, it is safe to have it inspected at a maintenance shop without overdoing it.
Defect details by vehicle type
Although the “way of getting out” the defect is similar, “which model has many problems” is slightly different for each car model.
Trends by vehicle model and common breakdown cases among other owners are summarized on the following page.
You can scroll
You can scroll
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How can I tell the difference between road noise and vibration?
A1. If the sound is “constant” and not accompanied by shaking, there is a high possibility of road noise. On the other hand, if the sound and shaking come out as a set, problems such as uneven wear, poor balance, and bearing deterioration are suspected.
Q2. Is it a malfunction that the “gurgling sound” has increased since changing tires?
A2. New tires and sports tires may have increased noise due to the groove pattern and the hardness of the rubber. If it is not accompanied by shaking, it is often normal road noise.
Q3. Why does the sound feel like vibration when the steps are reduced?
A3. This is because if the height of each block of tires is uneven, the ground will be disturbed when rotating, and the sound will be transmitted to the steering wheel like vibration. The faster the speed, the stronger the symptoms.
Q4. Does the wheel balance make a sound?
A4. Yes. Microvibrations of imbalance may be heard as “buzzing” or “going”. It is typical for simultaneous sound and shaking at 80-100 km/h.
Q5. What is the difference between bearing deterioration and road noise?
A5. Bearings are characterized by “increasing sound in proportion to vehicle speed”, “changing sound in curves”, and “micro-vibration”. Road noise depends on the condition of the road surface, but bearings need to be inspected as soon as possible because they can lead to damage if left unattended.
コメント