Front drone ( not the flying kind)

[dougmead2004338]

Whilst going down to Cornwall in my 03 X350 as I was going uphill I had this droning noise which got quite loud it sounded and felt like my tyres had deflated? I stopped in the nearest layby to inspect my wheels and there was no problem with the tyre pressures all round. Continued my journey with no droning and put it down to the road surface being bad. The other day I had the same problem only it was not so loud and just faded away . I have noticed lately that when braking sometimes It feels like I can actually feel the brake pads on the disc so get a rotating feeling through the steering wheel. Any ideas or has anyone had the same kind of issue?

[mike020150]

If the noise is coming and going, it suggests the most likely candidate is an intermittently sticking brake calliper. Try testing the temperature of all four wheels/brake components to see if one of them is markedly different from the others. That might give you a clue. Mike.

[dougmead2004338]

Ah! That makes sense Mike as I had 2 rear tyres fitted a couple of weeks ago and the mechanic said that one of the callipers was sticking a bit. Time for an overhaul of my front brakes me thinks as there is a clicking sound coming from the front right wheel every time I corner.

[PaulGover]

I wonder if it could be a failed wheel bearing, which might also explain the clicking. It's easy enough to test - jack each front wheel off the ground and give it a spin. If it won't spin, it's binding brakes; if it spins and makes a noise, it's probably bearings; if it spins freely and there's no noise, it's gremlins The best way to listen is with an engineer's stethoscope pressed against the stub axle (needs the boss over the wheel nut removing), or the ear on a screwdriver.

[BrianG]

That sounds like a sticking brake caliper. I had the nearside front one go last year; on short trips it proved no problem, more than about 5 miles it would make a groaning noise at low speed and if driven further it would start to pull the steering to the left. If allowed to cool down it became OK and usable for a bit. I had to get it trailered to my independent Jaguar dealer as it was beyond the 'driveable' range described.
I also had a front wheel bearing go on the other side: unlike wheel bearing problems I had with other cars, on the X350 with its cassette bearings this sounded like a small, loud motorbike at 50 mph!