Sorry, I'm a BANME!, but figured I could count on you guys for some advice maybe.
I have a 97RS, bout 113k miles on it.

The problem is that while driving I hear a kind of fwop fwop fwop sound coming from the driver side rear of the car. The noise speed varies w/ speed of the car as to go along w/ the tire rotation. The noise is most noteable at speeds between 20-40mph, not really noticing it below or above those speeds. At first the noise would only occur during the cold weather on occasion, on certain roads and while i was going around right curves. Now it has progressed to almost all the time and even when I'm going straight. I can get the noise to go away if i turn the wheel to the left, or if i hit the brakes.

Do you guys have any idea what this might be so that I'll have some sense of what to look for or talk to a mechanic about, so that I don't just get ripped off. Appreciate any help in advance, and sorry if this is an extremely basic thing. If you need any other information, just lemme know

I know this sounds obvious, but this exactly like what happens when the lug nuts are not tight enough. (The noise will happen when going straight mostly, and not under braking or acceleration) I'm almost 100% sure it is this, so hopefully it is and you should be all set. Even if they feel hand tight, that is not enough so get them good and tight. Good luck!

How many miles are on the tires? How do they look?

Brian

the tread on the tires is fine, though in a few thousand miles they'll need to be changed, not sure about how many miles exactly. they're kumho 235/40/18's on the rear, front has 225/40/18 i believe

Originally posted by hydrata
the tread on the tires is fine, though in a few thousand miles they'll need to be changed, not sure about how many miles exactly. they're kumho 235/40/18's on the rear, front has 225/40/18 i believe

Why do you have wider tires on the rear???

the rims came w/ those and they were originally on the front, but i rotated them to the back and bought the correct size tires for the front, no sense in wasting perfectly good tires, next rotation i'll have all 225's.

and do you really think it might be the lugnuts are lose? if that was the case wouldn't i get a lot of vibration or wobbling while driving?

Originally posted by hydrata
and do you really think it might be the lugnuts are lose? if that was the case wouldn't i get a lot of vibration or wobbling while driving?

You would think so, but I think that would be only if they are very very loose. But I really think that this is all the problem is. Just tighten them up and let us know.

The reason I asked about the tires was because my tires used to sound like that. It was simply because they were going bad. The progression (started small, got worse) also could indicate the tires are wearing. I suppose I'd start at the lugnuts like ^^ said, then rotate the tires around and see if that changes anything. If so, there's your answer. If not, it's something more "internal" like a wheel bearing or something.


Brian

Yeah, after checking the lugnuts, jack up the rear of the car and see if there is any play in the wheel when trying to move it back and forth (one hand on top, one on bottom). If it wobbles, bad bearing.