First post on the forum. I recently bought a 2012 Jaguar XKR (Coupe, black, black interior, black wheels - cream roof-liner) with 66,000 on the clock. FJSH. It has been absolutely brilliant so far, bar having to sort a few things which have resulted from the previous owner barely driving it during lockdown.

One thing that is nagging me though is that there is a thumping/throbbing noise when driving. Sounds like a flat-spot on a tyre, or even the sound you get when one window is open at high speed - but i have had the rear tyres replaced and it remained, and i have the fronts checked twice by my local indie and they insist that they seem fine.

- There is no vibration through the steering wheel
- It is speed dependent - so I think probably wheel/tyre/bearing related
- It gets slightly louder when I turn hard right, and quieter when I turn hard left. - so presumably on the left hand side.
- It remains even when I put the car in neutral and coast so I don't think it is exhaust
- It is loudest when the windows are all up and I am travelling above 30mph - but it is apparent at all speeds. (if I am putting my foot down it is drowned out by engine noise entirely) - but i can hear it when the window is down and i am not driving fast enough that the wind noise is too great - so i dont think it is air flow related.

It is one of those noises that doesn't sound horrendous, but once you have noticed it is hard to not listen to it the whole time. I took the car on a 2,000 mile drive around the south of france last week (which was brilliant) and I THINK the noise has got slightly louder... so I want it sorted!

My current bet is either a wheel bearing on the left hand side OR a very minor front left tyre flat spot which the indie can't see (although I am surprised I can't feel that in the steering). Anything else I should check?

 

A thorough inspection of the suspension bits is likely in order and spinning up each wheel whilst mounted to the car may also confirm any issues with the hubs and related hardware.

 

Had something similar on my other car, a wup-wup-wup sound that was noticeable starting about 20 mph, and was speed related. Didn’t feel anything through the steering wheel and it did seem to vary a bit on cornering.
Did the normal wheel bearing tests looking for looseness but seemed tight.
Thought maybe the wheels were out of round, so took it to a wheel shop and they said the wheels were straight.
Thought maybe it was a wheel balancing issue, so took it to a place for road-force balancing, and the tech showed me the wheel/tire spinning on the machine. The problem was the tires were out of round, you could clearly see the tire surface rise and fall as it spun, while the rim ran true.
Replaced the front tires and the sound was gone!

 

Swap front wheels side-for-side and see if the problem follows. That'll narrow it down.

 

If it changes when turning it most likely is one of your front bearings. Might as well do them both even if only one is making noise.

 

That sounds exactly like the same symptoms. Is that something a local Indie can do? Or is it usually a specialist job? I have the car booked in to the garage next week to get it checked over so I will add that to the list! Thanks for the reply!

 

Thanks all - really helpful suggestions. In summary my check list now includes:
- Wheel bearings
- Swap front wheels/tyres side to side to see if there is any change
- Road force balancing - check for round tyres
- Thorough check of the suspension
- Spin up each wheel individually.

I have the car booked in to be look at next monday so I'll update on how I get on!

 

Depends on what equipment the indie has, although I was able to see the out of roundness myself before I took it anywhere and why I though the wheel had a problem, but it turned out to be the tires:
1. Jack up the car such that the suspected wheel/tire is off the ground and you can turn it be hand.
2. Place a block of wood (at least as wide as the tire) in front of the tire such that the tread surface almost touches the block of wood.
3. Slowly spin the wheel by hand and watch the gap (across the whole face of the tire) between the tire tread and block of wood.
4. If it stays constant, your tire is round, but if the gap changes as you rotate the wheel, showing repeatable high and low points, you’ve probably found the cause of your sound.

 

if it's just a noise and no vibrations,I was gone say you might need a flywheel replacement.That gives a knock and a few clunks when turning the steering wheel hard left or right when travelling at slow speeds.Since it sounds far from that but to give you a heads up if it's this situation,usually cheap to have it fixed for other cars but jaguar for their overcharging reasons try to charge you atleast double the price to fix something like that i bet

 

 

Quick update on this! Turns out that both the rear wheel bearings are gone. Play in the bearings and a loud noise when you spin the wheels on the ramp.

New bearings ordered and will be fitted next week. Hopefully that should sort it! Thanks for all your input!