Driving along very nicely but she has always, well the last 18months anyway, made a noise from the rear drive.
Best I can describe it is RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I thought if it was wheel bearings it would have sounded RRRRRRR........RRRRRRRRR.........RRRRRRRRRR
So Gearbox? Dif? Wheel Bearings?
Whichever gets the most votes is the job I will tackle first (always get Motor Factor Vouchers for Christmas) WHO SAID THAT.....O sorry slip of the tongue. Does anyone camp on Christmas day?
When you say...'thought it was wheel bearings' does that mean you have already replaced them?
Wheels bearings can make a constant noise that changes tone with speed, interestingly tho, the noise can come and go when you load/unload the faulty side (by going fairly quickly around a left and or right sweeping bend) this is a very good indicator for diagnosis.
In all gears? changing tone? under load? any metal bits on the drain bung?
Obviously if it isn't wheel bearings then a gearbox strip maybe the only definitive way to get the answer you are after.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar now sleep xxHayleyxx
Before you go replacing anything try checking the security of the offending side rear driveshaft castle nut,,,,,,they should be very tight approx 500Nm or with the aid of a 46mm 3/4 drive socket and strong arm and a couple of FAT blokes if you don't have access to a torque wrench.
I have found if this drive shaft nut is fractionally loose it will induce slight play the rear hub bearing which will allow it to howl/grind (mainly on the over run) but it does give you the impression of a knackered rear wheel bearing ,when it isn't.......
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,,
One day you will find me,,
Driving in my Camper,
With a Surf and Paisley wrap on both sides....
remember me telling you a while ago pete about my noise in the cab..well i was unsure where it came from but i let gail move from front to back while it was noisey and she said it was deffo from the front.it sounded to me(being sat in the front)it could have come from the rear.also it was a droning noise rather than a constant noise..if you know what i mean.that made me think it could be the gear box....re newed the front bearings and theres no more droning...if you havnt already ,get someone to check while your driving just where the noise is coming from first before stripping out down
also check that the air intake pipe that runs up the side of the van to the vent is secure and the box behind the light on the left as this made a right racket on mine til iscrewed it into place
the word 'pissing' is safe
Dave and gail.....1983 Pop Top 1.9n/a diesel (aka Ready Steady Eddie)
Strange that you say that Weldy I did fit new front bearings when I got the van and have since read on here that these bearings were made of cheese (supplier sells three different foriegn car parts) Will get my mad daughter to drive and I will move about. Snorkel air intake thing has been a nuisance in the past and I wonder if the big space it sits in acts like a trumpet. I think I will renew all wheel bearings anyway as I can get quality bearings at a good discount through my works, only thing is I will need to take them out first to get the numbers off them. I have found another T3 stored up in someones garden with a bit of rust (sat there for 5yrs) but a really clean westy I think interior, glutton for punishment so let the negotiations commence.
Dif? 
