Our 2004 2.0litre Ducato has, once again, developed a front end, drive train, bearing noise. In April 2009, at 16,000 miles, this was diagnosed as a wheel bearing problem and, once both had been replaced, the problem was solved and any noise went away. Now, on 23,000 miles, a new noise has developed and this time it feels and sounds different to before. The noise is there at all speeds whereas before it only started at about 20 – 25 mph and it doesn’t disappear when the inner wheel de-loads on bends as happens, usually, with a wheel bearing problem.

The noise is there at all speeds in all gears and when coasting out of gear so that tends to suggest final drive. I can detect no play in the wheel bearings (but I couldn’t before) and no play in either CV joint. The CV joint boots aren’t split and there is no sign of grease leakage. No ‘clicking’ is evident when the van is driven in either direction on full lock. Tyres are Michelin Aegilis Camping and were new in April 2010. None show signs of any abnormal wear that might lead to road noise.

Whilst I appreciate front wheel bearings can be an issue with Ducatos of this type/age, I find it difficult to believe that both could have failed, again, so quickly. The replacement bearings were SKF so of decent quality. In any event, the noise is different to that last time.

Given all the circumstances, my thoughts come back to inner drive shaft bearing(s) or, differential bearing(s). Are there any know issues with these components and is there any way of confirming what the problem might be without just replacing parts until the noise goes away?

FD

Hi.
Easiest and cheapest one first, front pad hanging on slightly, take it for a run and see if one of the front wheels is hotter than the other.
In my experience final drive usually makes a lot less noise when you come off the throttle and coast in gear. Check the gearbox oil level and look for leaks.
I would think you would be extremely unlucky for anything major to be worn with so few miles unless the gearbox is low on oil or you have been rallying it.
The inner d/shaft bearings, find a supermarket car park when its empty drive slowly on full lock to left and then to right any clicking will be the outer bearing, the inner bearing usually gives you the sensation that the front of the motor is lifting up and down( hope that makes sense).
I used to be a commercial and car mechanic for many years and final drive and driveshaft’s I would expect to last 100,000-200,000 miles but there are exceptions.
Assuming that you have checked the tyre pressures it might be worth front to back the wheels even if it’s just to rule them out for definite.
Good luck.