Help! Gearbox/differential/driveshaft Or Cv Joint?

[Guest Paul L]

My wife's Galaxy 2.0 GLXi [85K on the clock] has suddenly started making a horrendous 'clunking' noise! The noise is that bad, as a precautionary measure, I've insisted she doesn't drive it because I'm concerned there may be something seriously wrong. It's definitely a '10' on the old 'clunk-o-meter!!!!!!!

 

Driving forward in a straight line, from stationary up to 15-20 M.P.H., nothing happens. Hit 20 M.P.H., change into 3rd and all hell breaks loose!!!!! What I can only describe as a loud, rotational clunking noise starts. It's worse when the drive is disengaged as the clutch is dipped and is quickly suppressed when the brakes are applied - although it is still evident.

 

I've driven the car in reverse at relatively high speed but can't replicate the noise. It only happens going forward. It appears to be coming from the area immediately in front of the passenger footwell/bulkhead. Had a quick look underneath last night and couldn't see anything obvious like oil thrown or something dangling where it shouldn't. The car's been on the drive for 24 hours and doesn't appear to be leaking oil.

 

Going to start stripping it down tomorrow and investigate, just wondered if anyone had any 'pointers'. Gut feel tells me it's serious & going to be expensive. :P

[Masked Marauder]

It sounds like a failing CV joint to me. Is it worse when you corner?

[paulmpaciorek]

As daft as it sounds ..make sure the wheel nuts are tight !!! I expierienced this sort of sound ,as described above,travelling down rhe A1.called Green Flag out who in turn took the car home also thinking drive shaft was bust......but in the end LOOSE WHEEL NUTS..so give it a check before you strip it down

[makil6]

Mines a 1.9 tdi and ive just been going through much the same 107k on the clock, thought it was something really major replaced the front droplinks on the anti roll bar, this helped a little then i got some advice from a ford mech and he pointed out the strut top mounts were goosed, changed these and now its solid, not a nice job to do ,relatively inexpensive but try getting those top nuts off...........Hope this helps..

[Taliska]

Something like this happened on my first Golf - spend loads trying to get it fixed, but never got to the bottom of it.

 

Twas a truly frighteningly loud and worrying clunk from the front somewhere.

 

Good luck finding it...

 

Taliska

[Guest Paul L]

Well, after all that worrying, it was nothing too serious - thankfully! Just a simple, straight-forward knackered N/S front wheel bearing. Don't think I've ever seen a bearing fail as suddenly or as catastrophically as this one did though. Seals gone, cage disintegrated and not many ball bearings left.

 

Only came to light when I got the car on axle stands and ran it in gear. The loud clunking was actually the front wheel moving around on the stub axle!!!!!!

 

Anyway, got a new bearing from my local Ford dealer today and the car is now back on the road. The MoT is due in a couple of weeks. Wonder what 'goodies' that will show up. :(

[alanx]

Hi galaxy 1.9 TDi 2003. any ideas would be appreciated: a quite clunk when releasing clutch when changing gears, not in 1st or reverse, but as the car is driving normally, every time i change to another gear and release the clutch there is a clunk, like the worn out CVs on the old prop rear drive. not sure if its clutch bearing, cv joint, or gearbox. the sound comes from the rear or sounds like it does, very odd and worrying. help would be great thanks in advance.

[chrispb123456]

You need to get your lower undercover off to check out your CV joints particularly the inner ones, also check the rear engine mount (roll restrictor) for movement.