My '02 XC70 suddenly started making a fairly loud front end deep whirring sound. It varies with road speed, not engine speed, and sounds exactly like riding in a truck with off-road tires. The tires are quite new, and the vehicle was recently serviced (brakes have plenty of life). Ideas?

 

Maybe a bad wheel bearing sounds like it might be the problem.

 

Yeup, I spoke with the local independent Volvo tech guy who agrees that the bearing is the most likely culprit. Best part is that I learned he's a neighbor of mine, and will drive the car into the shop for me, bringing me home a loaner if need be! Excellent service, especially after the horrible experience I had buying the thing originally at the local stealership. Thanks!

 

Glad all is good.

 

Follow up. They replaced the bad bearing and the noise reduced but wasn't eliminated. Had to replace BOTH front wheel bearings. How strange that they both went at once!

 

More a question than anything else. Was the whirring sound constant or would it start and stop. Was it a sound or did you "feel" it? Thanks a lot.

My 2000 Volvo XC70 AWD makes a sound\ feels like a flat tire clunk. It comes and goes tho.

 

It was constantly there, varying in volume with wheel speed (not engine speed). Once it appeared, it never went away. There was no feel to it...not like my previous experience with a bad wheel bearing in another vehicle. Of course, the front wheel bearings on this car are quite unlike any other wheel bearings with which I have experience.

Yours sounds frustrating, coming and going like that. Good luck!

 

Thanks Sabre- Appreciate the help.

 

What was the cost of the bearings?