(T) funny noise

just got back from a long weekend away and a fair bit of driving and now i have a funny noise.

now please bear in mind i hve had 2 diffs/gearboxes go before, and this noise is nothing like the noises made at the time, nor does it stop by dipping the clutch or coasting in neutral.

It basically sounds like i have a second engine at 40mph and above. I thought it was just loud, then i coasted and as the revs dropped i was left with the noise, like a second engine on tick over. It does increase with speed, not revs, so is like an increased road noise. everything drives ok.

now i have theories-

1. could be increased tyre noise as they have worn, (although i doubt this as it started on friday and doesnt change with tarmac type)

2. I have a knocking from the front end, which isnt drop links as they have been replaced, so im thinking track rod ends, but why make a noise like this and so consistant.

3. drive shaft/cv joint. its speed specific and dropping the clutch or coasting in neutral doesnt stop the noise or effect it. all gear box/diff failures i have had the noise stopped when coasting or dropping clutch, so the failure has been on the otherside of the gearbox, and this is constant and is whats on the other side of it. Now, please note i have not got any signs of driveshaft/cv failure, no noises when turning, no clicks no bangs, cv boots look all in place and tidy, so dont know if its that

4. its rear axle related- i have one bust rear bush. there were 3 adults and their luggage in the car when its at its loudest, however, wasnt as noticeable with just me in it or when 5 people in it.

5. wind noise through mising undertray- im clutching at straws as this has been missing months

I really dont know what it could be and im not going mad as the missus' brother can hear it.

any idea on whats i should be checking/looking out for? any theories?

also with the driveshaft what should i be checking for as i have none of the usual problems

i will be jacking up the car tomorrow

sorry post is sooooo long

Rear of car, speed related, worse when loaded in rear, loudest above 40mph
Sounds like rear wheel bearing.

If it's worse going around a fast corner in one direction, less in the other then that would confirm it. Also if applying the brakes makes the sound less

As you've had work done there, make sure someone hasn't left the hub nut loose

to my knowledge the hub hasnt been off as the axle was only dropped on one side.

It doesnt get worse with cornering or ease off under braking (apart from slowing down)

wheel bearing isnt something i thought off. whats the best thing to look out for when checking apart from wobbling like a b@st@rd

Could be something in a tyre.

Look for embedded nuts, nails, screws & pens etc.

Hi All
BBS had a similar thing on the last rear bush I did, turned out the hand brake cable had escaped from its clip and was rubbing on the inside of the tyre, more so when loaded up, it was hitting the raised logo on the tyre.
I put it back in the housing and secured it with a cable tie.
Good luck.

its not the hand brake cable, but thanks for the tip!

just jacked up the car and wheel bearing on drivers wheel is fine and no noise from the drive shaft under hand pressure, everythings all tight and looking ok.

ran the car with a wheel in the air and it made the noise, only louder as not on the ground.

it does it under free wheel after killing the engine

no idea what this is now

Getting confused a bit, so we're talking definitely front wheels now?

Any chance of uploading a video with sound? An "engine on tickover" is pretty noisy and difficult to imagine that coming from the wheels

i dont think i can get a video up.
what i did was jack up the drivers side wheel and run it in 5th so little engine noise and i could hear the noise. like i said everythin feels solid

i have just been out in it to reset the asr/esp/abs errors caused by running a wheel in the air, and whilst no traffic about it does get louder if banking for a gentle left, and quietens on a gentle right and is just there when going straight.

when the diffs went it was a whining noise, this is a rumble

Did you try with passenger side too?

na it got dark and i only have 1 and a 1/2 hands due to nerve problems.
im starting to panic its a diff/gearbox (although no signs of leaking oil)

whats your theory argo?

Hadn't really thought too hard but guess if the noise is same for both sides of the car (wheel spinning free) then you have to look towards diff/gearbox

On the other hand, if it's only on one side then you can pretty much discount it - which would be nice

im worried so much it is, im not driving it at the moment. lucky i have the saxo really. i think im going to have to bite the bullet and get rid. this noise is the straw that broke the camels back as if it is a diff problem again, it aint cheap, plus the rear bush needs doing and plus it needs 2 new tyres, a new set of front discs and pads before MOT.

was going to jack the passenger side up tonight but its tipping it down.

spent all day pricing up new bravos today. am i mad?

Well fingers crossed for you that it isn't I'll feel kinda guilty if you've got big problems as I tried to talk you out of changing it when you had a chance with that JTD150

Don't forget, even if it looks like the diff, it'll still be well worth changing the diff/gearbox oil (check what comes out for metal fragments too).

i think one good thing is there is no signs of leaking oil on gearbox/diff casing