Our 92 Legacy L wagon (front wheel drive) is making a thumping noise. We can't figure out where it is coming from, but the majority of our drivers think it is coming from the back of the car - rear end maybe...

 

The noise is not apparent until the car gets to about 50mph and higher. Turns don't increase or decrease the volume or pitch.

 

I think the noise sounds like a large military helicopter is hovering over the car as I'm driving it - ie: the sound of rotor wash.

 

My wife says it sounds like a flat tire.

 

My son says it sounds like the tire plys are seperating.

 

We got new tires last week. We had this noise before with the old tires. The noise didn't change at all.

 

Any ideas?

I was going to suggest either weak shocks causing wheel bounce. or u-joint on driveshaft... last seems unlikely being FWD!

 

How did tire wear on old tires look? Any weird scalloping or diagonal barring?

have you jacked up the car and rotated the wheels by hand to see if they roll smoothly?

a pretty good thump. If it were mine I would be jacking it up and spinning and rattling. Don't forget to block it up before yanking.

Hi,

are all of your windows shutting correctly? Sometimes an open window can cause a very distinctive noise just like you are describing. It can even be load enough to hurt some peoples ears.