Since purchase 2 years ago I have noticed increased road noise at certain speeds.
At around 60 kph it is quite loud fades out around 80kph comes back around 90kph and then goes away at higher than 100kph.
It does not sound mechanical, more like a "roaring" noise. Swaying the car from side to side makes no difference in detection of whether a wheel bearing issue.
Not having matching front and rears, a week or so back I put two new Falken 255 50 R20 109V's on the car so as to match the near new other two and while this has made a little bit of difference its not a lot. Alignment was done at the same time.
The car has only done 120,000kms, has never been off road or towed anything - gentle life.
Ive recently changed oils in diffs and transfer box without issues with all oils coming out clean.
The ZF has not yet been serviced however is operating without fault and will be serviced soon.
Wondering if anyone has experienced similar?. Whether the model is just inherently noisy on the road or whether the Falkens are known to be noisy despite their premium price tag?

Are your Falcon's an All Terrain pattern? That would cause noise, but you most probably knew that already!

Otherwise, are they road biased directional tyres and running the wrong way, perhaps if the wheels have been swapped around - that'd cause noise as well.

When you've said it's a 'roaring' noise, the first thing that came to my mind was the viscous fan might be faulty and stuck fully engaged. The fan roars when fully engaged, you often hear it when you first start the car, then it dies down. I've had an L322 where the viscous coupling was locked up and you could clearly hear it roar when driving along!

Check that the fan can be freely spun by hand when the engine is cold and obviously WITH THE ENGINE OFF! If it's tight at all, that would indicate a faulty viscous coupling. Don't test it on a 40 degree day, but things should be cooling down in Perth right now!

Let us know how you get on!

Jon 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

Thanks Jon,

Checked the fan and it spins freely.

The Falkens are road patterns not all terrain.

Have tried dropping the car into neutral to see if the noise is still there at speed and it is unabated.

While it does not sound like a bearing, the sway test rules a wheel bearing issue out.

The "roaring" noise is more like a reverberation/harmonic noise as opposed to a nasty mechanical noise. Its not a whine like a flogged out diff would make. If I had to pinpoint where I think it is coming from I think it is from the middle to the rear of the car as opposed to the front end.

Any other diagnostic ideas?

I thought mine's noise must be the right front wheel bearing so had it replaced, but to no avail. The cause was eventually tracked to 2 brake lines vibrating together not far from the m/c due to a dislodged pipe separater. L405 D350 SE Carpathian Grey D5 19" rims

Having spent a bit more time diagnosing I reckon its the left rear wheel bearing.
Swaying the car from side to side driving i can hear the noise coming and going turning the car to the right. When under pressure turning right the noise stops and comes back when the car is hearing straight.
Trying to find some information on this. Most of what I can find points to a pretty big press being required to remove the bearing.
Anyone had experience with this?

Looks like the entire assembly bearing included cannot be purchased online its either one or the other or both.
Having to access a pretty big press to do this job which I dont have I think its a job to give up on and get someone else to do it.
Couple of things I have checked in final diagnosis of this;
1. Swaying the car to the right at 60kmh stops the noise. Think this the result of unloading the right rear wheel and therefore its this one, not the left.
2. Ive lifted the right rear and cannot detect any slop from manhandling the wheel.

Finally, trying to do a manual spin test of the wheel to listen for bearing noise has been to no avail as I cannot get the wheel to turn despite the car being in neutral and the handbrake off. Any ideas for what I a doing wrong here?

If it has an e-diff then jack both sides. L405 D350 SE Carpathian Grey D5 19" rims

Benji1 wrote:

1. Swaying the car to the right at 60kmh stops the noise. Think this the result of unloading the right rear wheel and therefore its this one, not the left.

This would strongly indicate a wheel bearing issue to me. Checking for play (i.e grabbing the wheel top & botom) won't always find an issue, as you most likely already know!

Your only choice may well be to change the bearing and see what happens.

Having said that though, a set of 'chassis ears' may well be a good investment. They're pretty cheap on eBay / Amazon these days! Or just a plain & simple mechanics stethoscope might suffice to detect a worn wheel bearing.

I have a similar issue with a Renault Master van right now, I've changed the same wheel bearing twice and still have noise issues, although I've noticed the tyre of the offending corner has worn unevenly, so I'm suspecting just plain & simple alignment in my case with this one! Might have to take my own advice and buy some chassis ears !

Jon

Jon 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

Once a tyre has become noisy it won't ever be quiet even after the alignment is corrected. Move the wheel to another spot to see if the noise moves. L405 D350 SE Carpathian Grey D5 19" rims

Thanks Graeme, I'll do that. Might even replace them.  1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)