Today I noticed a noise from the driver (left) rear when cornering hard left on my 2004 XK8. I think it sort of sounds like the tire rubbing, but I can’t be sure it really is that. Normally a tire rubbing is fairly obvious, but this isn’t obvious so I am second guessing that.

When turning left, am I correct in thinking that the left side of the car rises a bit? Doesn’t all the inertia of the car go toward the right on a left turn? If so, I would think that if I were to have a tire rubbing problem when turning left, then I would hear it on the right side, where the suspension compresses a bit.

I had new tires put on about 3 weeks ago, and I have not heard this noise until today. The new tires are the stock size; I didn’t go wider or change profile or anything, and I have driven hard since. Trunk is empty as always. Top is down as always. I see no signs of tire rubbing anywhere.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas?

 

noises are very hard to diagnose on description, first thing I would do is jack the rear end up (listen on the way up) and look for any signs of your sound. It could just be a squeaky shock. there is also a rubber 'stop' in the upper mount on the rear, it may have degraded and is rubbing a bit inside of the little 'hat' in which it resides. If it really bugs ya, you can get replacement shocks for about $100 ea, and they come with the new rubber piece up top.

 

From the left front or left rear?

 

Is it while driving hard and during a turn? Bad wheel bearing?

 

Left side rear only. And yes, during a hard turn. I thought about the bearing, but I would have thought I would hear the typical roar sound that gets louder as the speed increases.