So, I suspect this is the 'Elephant in the room' with my car; there has long been a slight noise that sounds like a wheel bearing but it does not change around corners only gets louder with speed, as I repair other minor issues this has persisted and got louder. Recently I changed the O/S rear wheel bearing (which was really noisy, especially around corners) and the N/S rear wheel bearing was replaced last year.

Also I have had 2x MOT advisories now of play in the drive shafts, which to me looks like movement where the driveshafts attached the diff not the UJs, and there is a probably about 5mm play 12-6 o'clock on both rear wheels but none 9-3 o'clock.

All of this leads me to think that something in the diff is causing the noise, probably bearings on the output shafts. Does anyone have any advice or experience of this?

Thanks,

 

A sound-clip or video would be helpful. But there are multiple possibilities. Could be U-joints, bearings, loose nuts/bolts. In my experience, I have had my differential on my XJ go out, from what I believe to be a sheared tooth on the pinion within the casing of the differential. This video link shows how it sounded: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y_q...ew?usp=sharing