Soooo need some help to identify and solve a high pitch sound I keep getting from my front driver side tire. I have read through a few forums that talks about Michilen tire tread issues and sounds coming from the front of the 3IS’s. I have tried “almost” everything people have suggested, but to no good results.

The sound is getting annoying (close to ear popping) especially at 71-73 mph. It seems like it is only affecting the driver side.

2015 Is 350 F Sport AWD

Tires: Michilen Pilot Sport+

Wheels: 18” stock

I have had this car for almost 2 years. Within 6 months of owning it I had a commercial plumbing van rear end my drivers side rear. The van was going about 35 mph on a slight downhill turn. I was at a dead stop, due to traffic being at a standstill. The van hit me in a sweet spot that required replacing the left rear frame rail, rear quarter panel, taillight, suspension, tire, and some other things. Insurance did not total the car as the total cost was not 75% or greater than the value of the car.

After getting it back and put together, I noticed a loud humming/high pitch sound coming from the front driver side wheel. This noise occurred from 75-78mph. Since it was still under warranty, I took it to the dealership and they replaced the ball bearings on the that wheel, as it was the issue. They also told me that the rim was dented from a pothole or something (lovely Michigan Roads!). Then I replaced all the tires; as 3 of the tires had uneven wear from this. The dealership was able to fix the dent on the rim slightly by using some sort of leveling tool/instrument. Thought this would fix the problem....Nope.

So I replaced the dented wheel with a replica from RoadReadyWheels. I wanted to replace with an OEM but the cost was killing me already. The sound was still there so I went back to the Dealership and they swapped out wheel bearings for the second time. During the winter I couldn’t really tell of the noise due to the snow.

Since last fall I have had the alignment done and the new wheel balanced again-the weights fell off at some point since it was balanced.

I put the car in storage in March since I have started working from home – thanks COVID-19. I pulled it out last week and the noise is back. I noticed that at 55+ miles you can hear a noise that sounds like wind pushing some plastic piece back and forth. As I gradually increase speed to 71mph the sound increases and peaks at 72-73mph.

Going to get my alignment check this week again. Will update if the alignment helps, But does anyone have any suggestions or advice as to solve this issue!
This is killing me and I don’t want to get rid of this car as I do love it!

Any Help would be greatful!

 

The alignment is not going to fix the noise...I can pretty much guarantee that.

Couple of questions:

1. How sure are you it's the drivers front wheel area causing the noise? I ask because noise can travel around the vehicle and appear to come from places it actually isn't
2. Is the noise rotational or constant when it starts to occur? Rotational would suggest it's linked to something turning...but a constant consistent noise would be from something fixed
3. Any chance the noise could be from the driver's rear? Since that was the area that took a significant impact

If you're sure it's the wheel/tire, have you tried swapping the front wheels side to side to see if the noise moves with the suspect wheel? This would only be temporary for test purposes, in the event the tires are directional.

 

Sasnuke,

At this point i am just assuming that the noise is coming from the front.
Never thought to switch the front tires and see if it is the tire/wheel or if it is coming from the front of the car or rear.
Will try this and if this is not the issue then i will take the rear driver's side wheel off and see if there is any issue there. Worse case i will take it back to the body shop that did the work.

will post an update soon, THank you!

 

In your original post you describe the noise as a high pitch sound.
Wheel bearings usually start as a hum and work their way to a growl as they get worse...so that kind of rules out the bearing.
Tires are more likely to cause a high pitch sound.

Also with bearings and tire noises, usually if you sway the car side to side while travelling straight you will hear the sound change tone or pitch.
At 70+ mph this might not be the safest recommendation, but if you are hearing it at 50 mph, it might be something to try.

 

Same thing I tell people on the BMW boards when they post "I HAS A SOUND WAT IS IT"

Post a video.

 

So i have finally been able to get some time to mess with the car.
1.) The dealer already replaced the bearing when the sound originally started.
2.)I put the car on stands and shook the both front tires. Heard no noise and they did not give.
a.) i drove the car with the tires rotated and the sound was still there. Now that i am pay even more attention to them i hear something around 50mph and it starts out low and then increases as i increase in speed.

I will put the car back on stands and check the back wheels out. Did find out that my rear rotors were starting to go bad. so ordered replacements and will place them on when i check the back wheels.

 

Replace those tires. I had the same issue with my previous IS. Thought it was the bearings that I had to go to two different Lexus service centers. They replaced all my tires with another set just to show me it wasn't the bearings.

I had the Michelin A/S 3+

They did replaced them with Pilot Sports All Season 4 - ultra quiet.