Pulled the tarp off the outback after 18 months of not being driven at all. Jump started first time, engine is running beautifully! Very happy that he started, beats the sh*t out of have a hire car!
However, we have a noise issue. I was hoping it would fix itself while we were gone, care of the car fairies. Alas, no fairies came to visit
Basics: 1997 Outback, manual, running 4.11 dual range and 215/70/16 Yoko Geolanders which are almost new.
Here is the *hopefully* relevant info:
- Sounds like a medium pitch humming/whining
- Originates from the front end, marginally louder on drivers side
- Vague sound with no distinct direction or origin
- Gets louder with vehicle speed, from no noise at all at walking pace to smothering conversation at highway speed.
- Unaffected by gear selection
- Unaffected by engine speed
In addition to the noise, there's another clue too:
When breaking with some power (i.e. stopping at the lights, steep downhill) or breaking hard, the break pedal 'bounces' or 'pumps' about 2 cm - not sure how else to describe it. At the same time, there is also a rapid shake of the steering wheel from side to side, moving about 2 cm either way.
Tyres are balanced and wheels were aligned when the tyres were put on about 1000km ago, no four wheel driving or major potholes since.
My suspicion is that the front discs are warped, thoughts?
Thanks,
Owen
