Loud whirring noise from wheels

[misslideaway]

I have a r reg 60 SX Punto.  Recently a high pitched, loud whirring has been coming from underneath car.  It passed MOT and although I pointed this out to garage they could not find anything..

It happens once car is warmed up and when I put foot on brake it stops and returns when I release brake.. Any ideas?

[Kev_UK]

Hi misslidaway

I have a Chevrolet Camaro (american car) and on the front brake disc pads, there is a piece of metal that sticks out called a wear indicator. When the pads get worn down to a point they need replacing (before the rivets scape into your disc) this piece of metal will scape along the outside edge of your disc giving a squeeling noise.  In summary, on your car it could be a wear indicator on your disc pads, the pads have worn down and the rivets are catching, a small stone that has lodged itself between the disc and a guard.

[hugoboss]

could be the bearing in the water pump.

[Kev_UK]

LMAO, a water pump on the wheels.

OK I know that's another noise you can get from a car but the question said it was a noise from the wheels.

[SnapDragon]

Could be the wheel-bearings... applying brakes stabilizes the wheels, making the sound stop. It usually starts at speeds between 80 and 120kmh (kmh / 1.6 = mph) but slowly deteriorates from there to a point I believe your vehicle is at. They're not expensive and the only way to know they become worn is by checking the play on your wheels regularly or, what usually happens, they start making a faint whirring noise. Why replace them immediatly? I was doing 120kmh when my right-rear bearing decide to sieze up. First, you have to hold on to that steering wheel coz it's got a similar effect as a blow-out. Don't touch the pedals, get the hazards on quick and steer carefully to a safe spot. The Damage: When a bearing seizes, get the wheel of ASAP while the bearing is still hot. If you don't get it off fast enough, it fuses to your axle, making it almost impossible to get off, meaning, you gotta get a whole new axle! Then again, it might not be the bearings...