Unidentifyable Rumble/vibration/knock

[galaxybec]

Hi all. I have a rumble coming from the front of my Galaxy 2004. At first I thought wheel bearing but took it to two garages for diagnostic. One garage couldn't pin point it, even after test drive and lifting front off ground whilst driving it in gear at speed while listening in different positions through a rod. The other said I had a split driveshaft gaitor so start with replacing that joint or shaft. I replaced complete shaft (only 40 quid on Ebay, over 250 quid at dealer),but no change. I then ordered and fit other shaft on opposite shaft, still no joy. Garage now tells me that they suspect the gearbox on the diff side of it. Spoke to gearbox repair specialist who quote 500 quid for repair, but they did tell me that the diff on a Galaxy is very rare to go wrong. I am now at a loss. Do I try replacing both side front wheel bearings first, or short intermediate shaft that I also suspected or go the whole hog and replace or repair gearbox? The noise itself is very simular to a wheel bearing noise, which gets louder when turning left, quieter to the right. It sounds pretty central although front seat passengers can feel the vibration through the floor and I think you can slightly feel it through the gear stick. Nothing comes through the steering wheel and braking makes no difference. I would say that right at the beginning of all this when it started, if you accelerated hard up a hill under pressure, you got vibration through the car, as if you had a loose front wheel. That has now gone though and been replaced with this noise. No slackness at either of the front wheels. Help???

[bhbobhill]

I usually find a wheel bearing is more of a whine rather than a rumble or vibration. I think I would be more inclined to look at the small half shaft in view of the amount of trouble it causes. Not cheap to replace either.

Regards

Bob Hill

PS there are a number of posting on this stub axle/ halfshaft

[bj2004]

just had this on my car started off like wheel out of balance then got worse over time it was splines on drive shaft breaking down its well documented on here i believe the culprit bolts on to power take off on gearbox cost me

[galaxybec]

Thanks for the prompt replies. Yeah I priced this intermediate shaft up. It does have play on it gear box end but its hard to see without removing it whether its the shaft thats got play or the gearbox. I have found that this part is dealer only unfortunately but Seat dealer is cheapest. He assures me that the part will fit and is the same. My friend has exactly the same Galaxy with same shaft, so I'll probably ask him nicely if I can swap mine for his just to try it and see if it goes. Thanks again for the prompt replies.

[seatkid]

The noise itself is very simular to a wheel bearing noise, which gets louder when turning left, quieter to the right.

 

In my (feeble) opinion that would make the drivers side wheel bearing the main suspect. Think that would involve changing the complete hub. Failing wheel bearings make noises under axial load (i.e. when turning sharply) thats probably why they cant pick it up when the car's lifted.

 

If I were you, I'd leave to get somewhat louder and more obvious.

 

Last wheel bearing failure I experienced (on the Fabia) was a rumble/grinding vibration - initially worried it was tyres or expensive gearbox/final drive failure. Undertaking the roundabout test identifies the side. Louder turning right indicates passenger side, and vice versa. You need to go at some speed to load the bearings up.

Edited January 23, 2012 by seatkid

[galaxybec]

Well from what i seen, the hub would need removing to replace bearing but bearing is seperate to hub, held in by a large circlip. I am guessing tho that the bearing is in bight and a suitable drift would be required to remove it. Still if it was the bearing that would be my cheapest option.

[seatkid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-sZoYfdGrA

 

 

 

Procedure

 

Bearing kit

Edited January 23, 2012 by seatkid

[bhbobhill]

If you find that its the intermediate shaft MIREZ a long term member put me on to this Polish company. He did a very good piece on this subject. This is a dealer part only and comes out the other side of

[galaxybec]

Ideal, thanks Seatkid and bhbobhill for the info. Will post back here shortly once I have swapped one car shaft for the other with my friends.

[MrT]

Hi,

 

I had a similar noise and it was the bearing on the drivers side shaft. The bearing had worn as the gaitor had a tiny split allowing the inner CV to leak grease and wear out which in turn put a lot of force on the bearing. As this happened gradually I was not aware of it until I started feeling a wobble when accelerating at mid speeds up slight inclines after driving for around 40-50 miles and it was the wobble I took it to the garage to sort out. The reduction is noise was very noticeable after a complete shaft assembly was fitted.