I just swapped my summer tires, which were making a horrible humming sound when driving on the freeway, or even 35mph +. I figured they were just worn, since they had about 25,000 miles or more on them.

Well, now I have my stock tires and rims on, and I am hearing that same humming noise. These tires also have about 25,000 miles on them. Its so bad that I have to turn the radio on just to get away from the woowoowoowoowoowoowoowoowoowoo noise.

Are both sets just equally worn and need to be replaced? Also to note, about 6 months ago I had my brake pads replaced, and that is when I started to hear this pulsing sound, but it wasn't as bad then. So was that just the tires the whole time and its just gotten worse?

If its just the tires, i'm cool with that and should replace them anyway. But could it be something else? I notice the sound mostly coming from the rear half of the vehicle. Id hate to buy new tires and have the same humming / pulsing noise. Please advise. Thanks!

 

rear wheel bearings are worn

 

How much am I looking at having the rear wheel bearings replaced?

Also to note: after some research I found that there was a recall: 07v399000 relating to the rear wheel bearings o-ring seal which could lead to rear wheel bearing damage. My car was purchased in the range that the recall is for, how do I know if my wheel bearings issue is related?

Is is just coincidence that the pulsing sound was noticed immediately after the brake pads were replaced? I've noticed now that its a two-tone noise. There is a slower, more faint, drawn out pulse sound that cycles every 2 seconds, wuuuuuuuuwuuuuuuuwuuuuuuu and then the much more rapid 3x per second woowoowoowoo that is louder the faster I go. (sorry for the horrible explanation). But I think it is important to note that immediately after the brake pads were replaced, the slower pulse noise was noticed, the rapid pulse noise has started the past 2 months or so.

Nothing sounds rattled, clanking, metallic, its all just pulse noises. The slower / more faint pulse noise I assumed was the new brake pads. Are the two noises both bearing related? Or could something have been installed incorrectly when the pads were replaced?

 

Most of the time a rear wheel bearing will just get louder as time go's by, you can check and see if the recall was done at the honda owner link, join if you haven't joined put in your info and the vin and it will tell you if your car was checked.

If the recall was done on your car you may be out of luck, but if it wasn't done you may be able to get free wheels bearings.

My car had 95K on it when I got it and it was never checked, but when they did check the O rings they were OK, some of the cars in question honda is looking for the O rings moved out of the groove and didn't seal causing water and dirt to get into the bearings killing them off.

 

Update: Took the car into the dealership, and the bearings were still under the powertrain warranty! (by a few days). I had them look into a few other rattling noises, so I was out the door for under $60!!

 

Sounds like you lucked out big time, good for you.