Evening gents.

Something has been noisy in my driveline since i bought my car and i guessed it was the diff, so i checked the oil and topped it up. As i'm tight/lazy i didn't bother changing the already leaking gasket at the same time.

That was probably over a year ago now, and what started as a slight wine has now developed into. . . well a noisier whine. It's not a constant whine, it's like when you spin something like a bucket and it makes a kind of va va va va noise, make any sense ? It's kind of like a reverberating noise which rattles and almost drowns out the stock speakers! It can make the dash pod rattle aswell.

You don't notice it at low speed but it's most predominant at 3500-4k in 5th. When you put your foot on the gas it is still there but the exhaust drowns it out, but put the clutch in and it's still there and a faster noise!

I know this will sound like giberish without you hearing it, but any ideas what would cause this kind of noise? I'm not even sure if it is the diff (non welded) now as i can't pin point wether it's coming from the front or back.

Any thoughts?

These are usually a pain in the arse but I often try and simulate them by putting the car on stands (very important to check the car is sturdy), start it up and bang it in 5th just ticking over. Climb under and find the source of the noise.

Speedy88 wrote:These are usually a pain in the arse but I often try and simulate them by putting the car on stands (very important to check the car is sturdy), start it up and bang it in 5th just ticking over. Climb under and find the source of the noise.

Start a car on stands then clamber underneath it.
Start a car on stands then clamber underneath it.

I think this system could be improved slightly.

Start a car on stands then tell someone you dont like to clamber underneath it.

Hence the "very important to check the car is sturdy" Worst that'll happen is the car will fall off the stands, which it was going to do anyway because you didn't check it was sturdy enough. It's not a muscle car, it isn't going to drive away in 5th gear

Speedy88 wrote: It's not a muscle car,

You take that back!!!!!!

It should be fine to put the car on stands and get underneath, that's what they are for. If the small vibration from running the car can make it fall it the axle stands are not secure enough to get under with the engine off anyway. Running the engine and drive is not significantly more dangerous other than the rotating parts and potentially hot exhaust, however the diff will transfer the power if you get you head stuck between a wheel and something solid, you can usually grab and hold a rotating wheel if both are off the ground. You'd still want to avoid that in an uncontrolled fashion though as there will be considerable momentum in the rotating parts.

Put the rear stands on the axle if the jacking points are suspect.

You lot have bigger balls than me.

Or maybe less torque.

Either way

Chris_C wrote:You lot have bigger balls than me.

Or maybe less torque.

Either way

Im with cowardy custard.
I THINK i could probaby bench press a 300.
But I dont want to try it.

Sounds like rear wheel barings to me, Im getting the same sounds. To my suprise the 2 previous owners have kept every single recept for the car. (The glove box was over flowing) I found that 10 years ago the RHS wheel baring was replaced but not the LHS. Its far more obvious if you kill the engine at 100 klicks.

Now to find a set that arnt a $100+ a pop. If anybody knows where I can find them cheap can you give us a heads up. I cant belive how much parts are for this thing in the land of oz.

OppositeLock wrote:Sounds like rear wheel barings to me, Im getting the same sounds. To my suprise the 2 previous owners have kept every single recept for the car. (The glove box was over flowing) I found that 10 years ago the RHS wheel baring was replaced but not the LHS. Its far more obvious if you kill the engine at 100 klicks.

Now to find a set that arnt a $100+ a pop. If anybody knows where I can find them cheap can you give us a heads up. I cant belive how much parts are for this thing in the land of oz.

I can ship you some over but the postage is akin to wallet rape.

volvosneverdie wrote:I can ship you some over but the postage is akin to wallet rape.

I just had some bits sent over from germany and it wasnt too bad. Price it up if you could, its gotta be cheaper than paying retail.

Threadjack ends............................

Well as safe as it may or may not be i don't fancy being under it when running

I had considered it to be wheel bearings, but when they went on my Beetle they never made any noise, just moved back and forth a bit when i rocked the wheel in my hand.

Would i be able to feel it if the rear bearings have gone, i mean like above, not when driving it?

did you check the gearbox oil too?

espescially since it's noisyer at 3500/4000rpm in 5th, if it where the wheelbearings or differential it should whine constantly if you drive a bit faster

volvodspec wrote:did you check the gearbox oil too?

espescially since it's noisyer at 3500/4000rpm in 5th, if it where the wheelbearings or differential it should whine constantly if you drive a bit faster

Yeah i toped that up at the same time.