Strange whining noise

[marcus1875]

Hi all,

My 280 has a strange whining noise, sounds like metal on metal. It starts once everything is warmed up, and gets progressively louder the more load on the car, or on tighter bends. The car seems to be running fine, no knocks. Just a strange whine.

Any ideas, could this be my diff

The wheel bearings seem fine, all the bushes are OK, no loose bolts etc...

Cheers

Marcus

[KKson]

Strange whining noise - sure it's not the wife when you spend too much time with the Wedge?

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Marcus...First thing i would check are UJ's....Inner and outer driveshaft UJ's and then the prop UJ...Ziga

[mk2 24v]

Is the whine engine speed related or vehicle speed related?

If engine speed, it may have an inlet manifold leak somewhere

[marcus1875]

It's vehicle speed, doesn't do it when revving stationary. I'll check the UJ's at the weekend. Hope it's not the Diff, that'll be off road for the rest of the year

And the wife doesn't whine, she moans and screams like a banshee! (When I'm out at teh Wedge that is, before any other suggestions come in )

Marcus

[Jack Valiant]

Sounds like the diff to me especially if it's louder under load or on corners (one driveshaft going faster than the other etc....

First check for seal leaks then the diff oil level and smell the oil for burning. Drain and replace with the correct oil for standard or LSD whatever you have fitted.

[marcus1875]

Cheers Jack,
Thats my weekend sorted then. Thought it might be the diff, hope iv'e caught it in time or it's a UJ.
Don't really want to have to fit a diff in the drive in winter, brrr.
cheers
marcus

[Henry Harris]

YHM

[marcus1875]

Cheers Henry.

[JamesMK]

I've had two diffs fail on me, sounded like a deep grinding sound that got louder on corners. Was like this when I first bought it but naively I wondered if the sound was normal. It wasn't.

[JamesMK]

JamesMK said:

I've had two diffs fail on me, sounded like a deep grinding sound that got louder on corners. Was like this when I first bought it but naively I wondered if the sound was normal. It wasn't.

Better described as a rumbling rather than a grinding sound.

[marcus1875]

My sound definately isnt rumbling or grinding, its a whine, metal on metal, like two metal cymbals spinning against each other.
marcus

[wild rover]

You were working on the rear brakes,is there any connection? just a thought since it wasn't there before.

[Number 7]

wild rover said:

You were working on the rear brakes,is there any connection? just a thought since it wasn't there before.

Does the noise go away if you lightly touch the brakes?

[marcus1875]

Yeah, the noise was there before i started the brakes. I thought it was them binding. But new pads in and generally tidy up to them and the noise is still there.
It does stop when brakes applied yes, which is why i removed them (which was just as well as i found a nail embedded in a pad and the other half of the nail in the piston dust seal!!)
Pouring down up here so investigations will continue tomorrow.
cheers
marcus

[Number 7]

marcus1875 said:

Yeah, the noise was there before i started the brakes. I thought it was them binding. But new pads in and generally tidy up to them and the noise is still there.
It does stop when brakes applied yes, which is why i removed them (which was just as well as i found a nail embedded in a pad and the other half of the nail in the piston dust seal!!)
Pouring down up here so investigations will continue tomorrow.
cheers
marcus

I take it you don't think that the embedded nail could have been the original cause of the noise (against the disc)? If you've fitted new pads, could they be dragging on a part of the disc that has a lip on the edge?
Another suggestion: n/s driveshaft rubbing the exhaust tube where they cross?

[marcus1875]

Well i've investigated everything. Good bews is the diff appears to be fine!
The UJ on the offside is convered in oil/grease/crap which to me suggests the bearing, the only thing is it doesnt sound like a rumbling bearing about to fail.
What do you guys think, does that pic look like a faiked bearing?
Marcus

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Marcus...If its covered in grease then it could of failed...They don't last as long as you would expect..Im sure you should feel a bit of play in the half shaft if it is naggered..Check both sides..Sometimes its worth doing both sides inner and outer...When was the last time they were changed?....Ziga

[Jack Valiant]

From the picture it looks like the inner wheel bearing grease seal has failed as U/J wear does not generally whine.. Clean up back of the hub carrier and monitor. In the meantime source some new rear wheel bearings and a pair of seals (you need 2 per bearing they do not generally supply both) and get ready to do both sides. My bet is they are 25 years plus old!

[marcus1875]

Both sides are 2 years old. I know that cause i blew them and my arm pins trying to keep up with a pair of Ferrari's coming up the A68, fabulous fun.
I do drive it "spiritedly" as a matter of course, but that is under 1k miles!
And i wouldnt have put a whine to wheel bearing failing. But i'll change both.
cheers
marcus