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Hi all,
I have a humming noise from the rear of the car, not all the time though.
It happens when I'm turning left, either on a long turn or a short turn when going about 30+mph. Noise disappears if I feather the brakes.
There's no roughness when the wheel is spun and no wobble but on the rear off side if I spin the wheel one way slowly and then slowly reverse it's direction I can feel a little backlash.
Sounds like bearings?
Andy

If the problem is a wheel bearing then the humming noise will be loudest with the car out of gear and coasting.
Check the tyres for being out of true...egg shaped or wobbling on spinning them around.

Also, next time you are driving along and you can hear the noise - gently take up the slack on the handbrake.
If the noise is still there then you can eliminate the handbrake shoes leaning against the disc as the issue...
As Jasper5 says, it sounds like a bearing, but check the tyres - also feel for bulges in the sidewall.

Rear bearings are around £50 each, and a bit of a pig to do without a pulling tool - and the handbrake shoes need to be removed to do it.

I hadn't thought about tyres, I'll check the air pressure tomorrow.
The noise doesn't appear when driving in a straight line only when turning left and the weight transfers to the off side of the car. Could be the tyre sidewall if pressure is down a little. Odd thing is though, if I touch the brake pedal lightly the noise stops.
Andy

If it only does it when cornering in one direction it will most likely be a wheel bearing, if its the tyres it will usually do it all the time and vary on different road surfaces.

Peter

A wheel bearing noise will be there all of the time when coasting out of gear...it may STOP on cornering for a short while.
If the noise goes away when the brakes are applied then you should check the brakes before anything else.

An out of shape tyre will give a humming/buzzing sound as you drive along....if possible, get someone to drive behind you and check for a rear wheel wobbling.

Took wheels off and checked pads, all good, I'd fitted new pins when I last changed discs and pads, pads nice and free.
I checked tyre pressure, not bad, span wheels on jack nothing major noted other than a slight bit of play on off side.
Then I over inflated tyres to 36psi, hum not as bad but it now does it when turning to left and is audible in a straight line, disappears turning right.
Think I'll leave it for now and see if it gets worse.
Andy.

Bearings will not normally be noisy unless there is weight on them. The case hardening goes on the surface leaving lots of little pits and under pressure the ball fall into them as they rotate. I fitted a new rear bearing in my wife's 206 less than a year ago and its whining again, first time I have had that happen.

Peter

Well, the noise has disappeared.
I haven't changed anything, tightened or loosened anything, it's just stopped. I don't know why, or what caused it, hopefully it has gone for good.
Andy

Pleased to hear it - or not as the case may be.

Peter