Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
Advice please. Wheel Bearing or Diff replacement.....?
Well I've had a whine for a while and it's been progressively getting worse. The 200 mile trip yesterday seems to have made it jump up a notch in sound level.
Here's a bit of the history.
A few weeks ago, I noticed that when turning left and doing about 20+ MPH, there was what sounded like a metallic grating noise. Straighten up and it was fine. I only heard it because I had the window down.
Checked for any stones in the brake caliper etc & all was OK.
Still had the grating noise turning left (not right) and it didn't seem to be getting any better or any worse.
Then I started to get a low whining noise. I thought it may be because my MTR's are wearing low (about 5mm left on them) but the increase yesterday from when I left in the morning to when I got home was noticeable, so the wheels are unlikely to have made that sudden increase in noise. There's no real vibration that can be felt other than the whining noise being heard.
the Whining noise is heard more when the car is coasting at speed of say 30-40 and then gets louder from there. Can was perfectly drivable at 70ish, just this louder than normal whine. The whine increases with speed and is not gear or engine based, so can only be drivetrain.
Today I jacked up all the wheels & checked for any excessive play in the wheel bearing as that was my next port of call for the noise. There's no noticeable movement. On other vehicles I've had where a wheel bearing has been worn, there has been some definate movement when you grab the wheel and move it up & down or side to side. Should I expect the same from the D3?
So IF it's not the wheel bearing, brakes are all sound and not sticking etc CV joints are all intact, I then move onto the next part, the Front Diff.
So, regarding the front diff....
Anyone changed one of these before?
I have all the GTR info on removing the halfshafts etc and it looks as though it can be removed from below.
Is it somethng that can be serviced easily or is it best to have a replacement complete unit? I've not used a gearbox reconditioning company since I had my old Mini! (1293GT on a Aplate mini Mayfair ) so perhaps easier for a Gen LR one (do they do Service Exchange units?)
So if it's not the Diff, then I can only guess that it would then be the Transfer box.....
So again, GTR makes it look relatively straight forward to remove & replace, anyone done it?
I think after all this, I know the potential parts that it could be, does anyone know of any specific tests or checks that I can try, in order to eliminate the potentially failing part, without me having to replace them all in turn or having to pay a dealer to diagnose.
Cheers all, any advice gratefully received.
Ian
PS I'll be aiming to do the work myself as I'm a tight git, but not bad with a set of spanners (well not bad for an office waller that is....)Bodsys Brake Bible
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13th Jun 2010 6:43 pm
flinty99
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 2558
The way you describe the grinding noise when turning left sounds like what I had when the Drive shaft failed a few weeks back, however the speed it degraded at to eventual failure was only a few miles (~30)
When I had the wheel bearing fail last week you could feel the vibration through the floor and you could hear the noise change when the wheel was hitting what seemed to be a flat spot.
The only way to confirm it was the wheel bearing was by lifting the wheel where you could clearly see the play, but given you have tried that, I guess its not the same Symptoms.
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13th Jun 2010 7:14 pm
Adigorn
Member Since: 14 Mar 2010
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 546
i replaced front diff
reasonably easy indeed
how to check it?
well the easy way wchich give you idea whats the diff condition would be to check the diff oil
drain it and if u will find quite big metal fragnents together with rather silve discoloration of the oil
it will indicate the diff failure
brown or honey colour of oil do not exclude the diff as a suspect
howewer never seen dead diff with good oil in it
13th Jun 2010 7:57 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
Hadn't thought of checking the oil...
will get some for the weekend.Bodsys Brake Bible
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13th Jun 2010 8:29 pm
1784
Member Since: 04 Sep 2009
Location: Almunge
Posts: 136
I would say your indications are pretty consistent with what I had recently and that turned out to be left hand front wheel bearing. I could not feel any play in the bearing when wheel was off ground, and no definite noise when turning the wheel by hand (there is always some slight grinding from the brakes etc.)
I guess these indications would be coming in the next phase as the bearing proceeds to break down.
14th Jun 2010 10:36 am
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14368
Had a suspected rear diff noise on my old one ..LR assist sat in the back and said it was deffo the diff .
Took in in and they replaced the rear diff ...no different ..so they replaced the OSR wheel bearing ..still no different ..so the NSR one was replaced ...that cured it .
Think i would be changing the wheel bearing first as its the cheaper option to try .G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
14th Jun 2010 12:44 pm
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
Wiggs - Was there any noticeable amount of play in the wheel bearings before they were changed?2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE AutoBuckingham Blue 2007 Golf GT DSG
My front diff when it started to go produced a slight whirring noise that was only present with power off, as soon as you went on the throttle the noise went, turning corners made no difference.
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14th Jun 2010 1:28 pm
BrumLee
Member Since: 07 Mar 2008
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1360
PaulP wrote:
Wiggs - Was there any noticeable amount of play in the wheel bearings before they were changed?
I would imagine not as it took three attempts to find and rectify the fault Faultmate MSV2 EXTREME
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14th Jun 2010 2:11 pm
wilsonmg
Member Since: 16 Apr 2008
Location: Wigan
Posts: 335
I would say the wheel bearing.
When mine went they started to whine. Strange thing was, the play in the wheel was hit and miss, sometimes there was a bit of play, then 10 mins later none at all
When it eventually went, the noise sounded like the wheels were falling off and I had about 5mm of play. 5 mins later though...no play...
I got both front changed and now all ok Still miss my D3
14th Jun 2010 8:19 pm
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Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
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Well I'm going to go with the Wheel bearing & see if that cures it. Not sure if LR have any & haven't had a chance to speak to Nick, but my local Britpart dealer says he has them in stock, so for times sake, I may just do that. Anyone any view on the Britpart bearings? I assume they're likely to be the same bearing supplier in reality?Bodsys Brake Bible
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) so perhaps easier for a Gen LR one (do they do Service Exchange units?)
But that's another bit to try Tursday night (next chance I get to do anything)
