Low Constant Droning Noise

[darton]

Just spent Edited March 10, 2010 by darton

[darton]

Dont know why this post duplicated,cannot seem to remove one! sorry.

[mikej]

I take it you have already checked your tyres, had this symptom twice this year on two seperate cars, galaxy & c max. Both down to cheap and no so cheap rear tyres, once changed problem gone!

just a thought? :ph34r:

[gregers]

ive sorted your duplicate post,probably due to the forum blowing a fuse??????

 

i too would try the tyres,have you had them checked?balance tracking etc?

[Audiman]

Could be a worn wheel bearing.

Happened to me on my old golf. There was not play when checking for movement. When I removed checled the wheel bearing the races were scorced.

 

It's probably worth checking this.

[sparky Paul]

As unlikely as it sounds, I would also look at tyres. Bearing noises tend to increase with speed, the drone from tyres seems to diminish once you get over the 30-50mph band. It could be a bearing, but have you had any tyres fitted recently?

 

The Galaxy seems to be prone to tyre noise from certain tread patterns, I was convinced I had a bad bearing until I changed the front tyres...

Edited March 14, 2010 by sparky Paul

[Jayton]

hmmm I've been wondering if my noise was the bearing or wheel.

 

The noise on mine coincidently started after the wheel had been changed, but it was a brand new decent make tyre.

 

 

I guess the only self check Darton & I could do is swap the wheels over with the rear ones, right?

Can tyre fitters check for any problems?

[darton]

Thanks guys.

As I mentioned in the post ,I have had new front wheel bearings fitted so its not those.

The tyre idea is a possible althought I have not long had my second set of exactly the same tyres recently fitted, but it did not make the noise with the first set. Also the noise only started slowly and got worse with the new tyres.think I will try swopping the front and rear over though just to see if the noise changes! let you know if it works,but keep the possiblities coming in chaps..nice one.

Neil

[darton]

Hello again.

Just changed the wheels over front to back with no difference in the noise so I dont think the tyres are involved, anyone go with the engine mounts idea? or DMF ? :)

[darton]

I've just done another test. Switched the engine off whilst cruising down hill,so no engine,clutch in, out of gear! still the noise persists,The only things moving are the wheels,half shafts, differential gears and bearings.anyone heard of the main diff gears wearing out and sounding like this? ( car has done 163k ) :)

[sparky Paul]

I've just done another test. Switched the engine off whilst cruising down hill,so no engine,clutch in, out of gear! still the noise persists,The only things moving are the wheels,half shafts, differential gears and bearings.anyone heard of the main diff gears wearing out and sounding like this? ( car has done 163k ) :D

Rumbling differential bearings sound similar to the problem I had, in fact I was suspecting my own before changing the tyres. Incidentally, my tyre noise did increase as the tyres wore down, but there was a noticeable noise as soon as the tyres were fitted. I just couldn't believe it could be the tyres, and wrote it off as coincidence.

 

I can't say that I have heard anyone on here with differential problems, either bearings or gears, the manual gearboxes seem to be pretty robust.

 

If it's not tyres or wheel bearings, a differential or OS intermediate bearing would be my guess. In my experience, bad drive shafts tend to knock or cause vibration, rather than rumble, and worn/damaged gears tend to whine. Did you have the OS intermediate bearing changed?

 

When diagnosing these faults, it's worth bearing (no pun intended) the following. The noise from a wheel bearing will tend to change as it is under load, i.e. when you weight up the outside bearing around a corner. A differential noise will tend to change as you alter the tension on the drivetrain, i.e. when you accelerate, then lift off.

 

 

When we got our Clio, that sounded like it had a dry front wheel bearing. I noticed a minor gearbox oil leak from the NS inner driveshaft gaiter, as well as a split outer, so I replaced the whole driveshaft. The inner NS CV joint is integral to the diff on Renaults, so that meant dropping the gearbox oil... it also meant the car had been losing gearbox oil, and I found only half what should have been in there. Replacing the oil with the correct quantity fixed the dry bearing noise.

 

So, I know you've had the gearbox overhauled and it's a bit of a long shot, but could it be worth checking the gearbox oil level?

 

 

It must be driving you nuts after spending all that cash! :)

Edited March 15, 2010 by sparky Paul

[seatkid]

Turn the radio up......should fix it. :)

[gregers]

Turn the radio up......should fix it. :D

 

stop it seatkid :25:

[Jayton]

Turn the radio up......should fix it. :D

 

stop it seatkid :25:

 

 

Worked for me :D

[darton]

(The gear box is a 6 speed manual by the way)

 

Can't turn the radio up!, since they did the gear box, they had to disconect the battery and the radio code I have is not the correct one, so no radio !! :) (but thats another story!)

 

Sparky Paul, some good info there, thanks....Most of it I can pretty much rule out with all the work and checks Ive done but the bit about the half shaft bearing has got me thinking! I did unbolt it recently and spun it as best I could while it was still on the car and it felt smooth, but how about I remove the bolts or slacken them,and take it for a run, see if it changes the noise. I'll give it a go.

 

I used to have a Scorpio 2.0 L so I know all about turning the radio up,.... To cover all the noises it was never turned off in that car :D

Thanks guys

[darton]

Thanks to some great help, my radio now works!! :D

 

As for the noise, does anyone think it could be the center CV joint on the split half shaft? (divers side).

While I was checking the center support bearing (which is ok) I hand turned the half shaft into the gearbox and the large gaitered joint move slightly rotationally, but the half shaft to the wheel was totally stationery,it also made some metalic sqeaking noises! is this a possible cause? hope someone could verify, cheers...Neil :rolleyes:

[darton]

Ive done a bit of research into the driveshafts and intermediate bearing, I'm going to change the two front shafts and all the CV joints (just bought them),and hopfully,the bearing and/or intermidiate shaft as well..Now I have heard..that this intermediate shaft and bearing weighs in at a hefty Edited March 31, 2010 by darton

[Jayton]

Ask VW, they seem to sell parts separately when Ford won't.

[rookie123]

Recently replaced both outer driveshafts AND the intermediate & stub shaft on drivers side.

Driveshafts cost

Edited March 31, 2010 by rookie123

[Willie Krashitt]

Regarding replacing the intermediate shaft - If you do go ahead with this, check before you pull it apart - if you have a small steel bracket bolted to the block to support the intermediate bearing, then you are ok, however the earlier design used a large aluminium housing bolted to the gearbox/final drive casing, and shafts for that are no longer available. You have to go with the newer design. To do this means ordering the support bracket that goes with the newer shaft.

The design changed, I believe, during May 2001.

 

The intermediate bearing is available seperately, but check the shafts - There should be no radial play at all in the intermediate shaft sliding joint - quite a few people have been left with no drive when the splines have stripped.

 

Hope that you cure it,

 

George.

[darton]

Thanks Guys,

I'am making some headway now. Ive got the finis numbers for the parts from Ford and I'm looking into VW supply for the parts as they seem to be cheaper than Ford!.

 

It already has the newer bearing bracket fitted so I will probobly change all the parts just to be sure,thanks for the info on what to lookout for.

 

I'll post again on completion, which may be a while, thanks chaps :rolleyes:

[darton]

A quick footnote to the problem,...Do the orbital planetary gear cogs and the main diff cog keep meshing and turning while ever the road wheels are turning? :rolleyes:

[sparky Paul]

A quick footnote to the problem,...Do the orbital planetary gear cogs and the main diff cog keep meshing and turning while ever the road wheels are turning? :rolleyes:

 

Yes, everything from to the output shaft in the gearbox to the diff.

Edited April 2, 2010 by sparky Paul

[darton]

A quick footnote to the problem,...Do the orbital planetary gear cogs and the main diff cog keep meshing and turning while ever the road wheels are turning? :)

 

Yes, everything from to the output shaft in the gearbox to the diff.

 

Thanks Sparky, ..I thought that was the case,I'm a little worried that after all this money and work replacing the shafts,CVs etc it could still make the noise!! :( oh well, we'll see!

[JohnR]

Just spent £650 on new bearing kit for gearbox and new clutch bearing!, £300 plus for new front wheel bearings and full service.. and the low droning noise is still there...I'm running out of ideas (and money).

The noise does not get any worst when cornering, is not to bad at faster motorway speeds but is worst at aronud 15 to 35 mph. It makes this noise only when the car is moving, makes no difference if clutch is depressed or not, noise stops when car stops, does not make the noise with just the engine running, still makes the noise weather it is in or out of gear (so long as car is moving). gets quite intense,making your eardrums resonate!.

I've been told it could be the dual mass flywheel or maybe the engine mounts, any truth in this?

Dont want to spend any more until I know what it is.

I really need some good solid answers guys! any good info may save my sanity!

 

(2001 Galaxy 1.9 TDi)

 

Thanks Neil <img src="http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":46:" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />

 

Darton,

 

Did you get anywhere with this problem? I've got the same kind of droning noise from my 6-speed manual box (at 170,000 miles). Have changed drive shafts, worn a/v mount and latest VW formulation of the gearbox oil to no avail.... am worried could be diff bearings, but g/box (synchro etc) is otherwise silky smooth???

Edited September 8, 2010 by JohnR