So I picked up my 06 XJR about 3 weeks ago and last week I noticed a whistle/squeak when driving over 40. I had not noticed it before since Ive been running with all the windows closed and the A/C on. I don't drive the car daily but maybe 3-4 days a week.


All I can deduce so far is if I jerk the steering wheel slightly left or right the noise goes away. My 40+ years as an auto owner/enthusiast tells me it might be a wheel bearing ??? in the front ??


When I first heard it I thought maybe a caliper was hanging up but I am 99.9% I have eliminated that. The car has just over 60K on and her looks to have always been well maintained (3 owner AZ car its whole life) but I never had this on the 05 I had a couple years ago so Im kind of lost.


Again, you don't here it at lower speeds just maybe 35-40 and up.


Any thoughts would be appreciated and thanks in advance.


John

 

Your prognosis maybe correct, so get it checked out. Turning the steering wheel and loading up the bearings each side in turn is a classic test for bearing noise. A German shop did exactly this when I was on holiday in 2008 at Bingen-am-Rhein, as I thought I had a bearing problem. Actually it was the Wanli tyres I had fitted !!

Modern wheel bearings tend to show very little play until almost completely shot, but turning each front wheel by hand may show up which wheel.

 

This U Tube link will give you several ideas to check for suspension/ steering noises. I have no affiliation with this gentleman but his advice is always sound IMO.