I've had a growling noise in the front end of my 04 XJ8 and it gets noticeably louder when slowing to a stop. I thought it was the tire tread design but now I think it's more likely the alignment. Is there anything peculiar about aligning a Jag's front end, as opposed to any other make? Thanks

 

A Jaguar's front end would be very peculiar indeed if an alignment problem could cause a growling noise. It's possible you are hearing a front wheel bearing that will need replacement, and an inspection by someone familiar with your car would be a better investment.

 

Thanks JagTech. With only 51,000 miles on the vehicle is a worn wheel bearing likely? I guess before posting my problem I should have looked for unusual tread-wear. My air pressures are correct. I just can't discard the notion the growling sound is coming from the tires. I know I can expect some road noise but shouldn't it be minimal for this luxury car? Is a front alignment rarely needed on a Jag? Thanks again

 

cupping and feather edging will make the noise youve described too. Run your hand across the tread it should be smooth with no cupping or grabbing (feather edged) of your hand in either direction. youll be checking mostly the inside tread block, and yes this would be an alignment issue. Rotate tires front to rear and the 04 and up XJ's need the front toe pretty much set just inside the red for toe in. It like the 03 up Stype should have had the toe in increased, you can really see this if you push out on the tires from underneath when doing the alignment like Mercedes wants done with a pressor bar, this simulates what the tire do when driving. Like Jagtech said could be a bearing, buy theyre sealed and long lasting as long as you dont drive through high water, and have severe pothole/curb hit too..

 

I can determine the difference between road noise from a worn or poor quality set of tires and a bad wheel bearing. And tires unevenly worn from misalignment problems don't make road noise "noticably louder when slowing to a stop", nor would I characterize it as "growling". I can't hear too much through pixels, so I can't pinpont the noise as a bearing fault: I can only recommend that the car be properly inspected, which is what I did.

 

Thanks to Brutal and JagTech for your input.

 

Andy....on the bottom right of your screen...is an icon of a speaker, turn it up to hear better...... :nana:well this sux...Im trying to copy n paste a nana smiley and it aint workn

Who luvs ya baby(use your best Dick Vital voice here)

 

BRUTAL,

That volume thing hasn't worked for me yet. I also tried licking my screen when I was looking at the Danica Patrick pictures, but all I could taste was...screen. And I couldn't get a moan out of her, much less a growl.

 

A growling that increases when coming to a stop is going to be the tires cupped on the inner tread. I've changed at least 100 pairs on XJs for exactly that. If I had an extra dollar for every time the customer said I was full of **** and then the new tires fixed the problem I could retire today.

 

Yes, and I'm sure you can align a car and make the tires uncup.

If somebody looks at the original poster's car and sees uneven tire wear, that makes for a little different thread now doesn't it. In that case, the alignment he asked about will solve the cause but not eliminate the effect.

 

damn this is becomeing a TECH thread....lol
I get rid of cupping real quick...
swap tires to rear, turn off traction control
find a cul-de-sac
need I say more