Noise from front side

[lsidir]

Hi guys,

this is only my second post so let me introduce myself again:) My name is Lefteris and I am from Greece leaving in Amsterdam, and owner of a 16 inch syncro.

I being having a noise problem coming from the front side of the car, I guess either wheel bearings, cv boots, the front diff or maybe VC:)

The symptoms are like this: when I am on the highway, once the third gear is on and only when I press the gas petal, a continuous loud noise is produced in the front side, something like putting your hand to stop a spinning bike tire. It is not a clean metal sound, it is something more "sub pitched" and continuous. The noise stops the moment I remove my foot from the gas. This will continue also when I change on the forth gear but never during the first and second gear. My VC is working ok (put the car on a lift and all 4 wheels were spinning - with a small delay for the front ones).

Do you have any suggestions on what it might be and even more important on how to go about troubleshooting it?

Thank you very much!!

cheers, lefteris

[toomanytoys]

Hi
Could be anything really.... without a good inspection and once over very difficult to diagnose.. need to check to see if any play in bearing, suspension bushes etc... brakes clean and free...

Dont suppose you get over the east side of the netherlands very often?? could meet up for a once over.. (I'm working out there) wont be back for another week or so though..

[lsidir]

Maybe I can drive in the east, but not any time soon I am afraid.

I will try to check bearings and so on, but i thought since I only hear the noise when I press the gas pedal and putting thus some force to the front side maybe it would be easier to diagnose and narrow it down. I am guessing - if I understand correct - there is no 4wd at that point, so it can only be coming from the center prop shaft. Am I right on this? The vc should not engage thus nothing should be changing from the vc and front when acceleration is given? maybe it is just the prop shaft. Is the prop shaft spinning when not stepping on the gas?

[LLOYDIE]

Hi,
I have just had to replace the U joint (rear) on the prop as this was causing a vibration that I first thought must be from the tracking or suspension....how wrong I was!! Checked the prop and found alot of play in the UJ so got it replaced. No vibration now!!!!

[xriss]

if your really stuck you could perhaps go over and see dan @ http://www.trailbreaker.nl/page16.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; he is close too you

[lsidir]

Dan is an option indeed, but for now I am just trying to troubleshoot it myself. I noticed that after 100km/h the sound stops again. There is no play on either the UJ on the prop shaft, or any play on the CV connections. I am starting to believe that the problem might be inside the diff.

[torchy]

Hi,
I have just had to replace the U joint (rear) on the prop as this was causing a vibration that I first thought must be from the tracking or suspension....how wrong I was!! Checked the prop and found alot of play in the UJ so got it replaced. No vibration now!!!!

Was that the rubber thing or the actual UJ?, from what I beleive it's not an easy job to change the front and rear UJ's, actually not sure how to start it, I've noticed a bit of play on the front propshaft so will need to get it done soon.

[LLOYDIE]

Torchy,
I cheeted and got my mechanic mate to do it. I did all the stripping down and watched him do the actual replacement which involved a large hammer and punch!! We replaced the actual UJ not the rubber as this looked ok. The circlips are the hardest part but other than that it looked quite straight forward. Having said that the mechanic charged £20 to do it....so well worth it.