My 3L 2005 x type has developed a rumble (wa wa wa) from the rear can’t decide whether its a wheel bearing or diff or something ells. So far I have lifted the car at each corner and rotated the wheels but cart hear anything & no play. If you put a screwdriver to your ear you can hear something in the diff but not sure if that’s it. When you drive the car the noise is more pronounced turning right and much less turning left sounds like a wheel bearing but can a diff do this too. The noise is present at low speeds right through & changes with speed also in acceleration and deceleration. I hope it is a wheel bearing but don’t what to fit one it it’s the diff or something ells. Can anyone help!

 

car2van, based on what you are describing, you are looking at a bad left rear wheel bearing. This has been my experience with AWD/4wd vehicles. Granted, you may want to give the carrier bearing on the rear driveshaft a good greasing to see if it changes anything. That has been known to create sounds like you are hearing. Some termaline grease, grease gun, and a needle attachment is all you need to grease the carrier bearing.

 

Thank you for replying Thermo
I have greased the carrier bearing and looked more closely at the rear left wheel bearing. This morning I stripped the hub down so the bearing could spin round on its own on the shaft. I still can’t feel anything tight notchy or grindy. Do you think it would still be the bearing?
Just changed the two rear wheel bearings on a friend’s Mondao. I was immediately obvious the bearing were at fault.
I took the car out after reassembly and the noisy has changed it is a little less but you can feel a slight knock through the car floor and pedals that corresponds to the noise.
Any more advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks again

 

car2van, if you are feeling it in the floorboard, then you are more than likely looking at a bad centering bearing on the driveshaft, not a wheel bearing though. The vibration in the floor/pedals is common with the centering bearing starting to go. I just find it odd that the noise changes going side to side turning.

 

Thank you Thermo once again for responding
I presume the center bearing is the same carrier bearing I have greased
I will have a look at that one as soon as I can
As for the change in noise around corners well I probably have more that one bearing on its way

 

Well I have gone and done it. I ordered a new near side rear wheel bearing and fitted it last night.
The news is, it's fixed the noise has gone I can't believe it.
Thanks to Thermo you were wright!
When you get the bearing off the car and compare it to the new one its obvious there is something wrong.

 

car2van, not a problem. Some of theses noises can be a bugger to track down as the noise travels all over the place. Atleast it is fixed. That is what matters.