E36 nasty noise...

[raceboy]

Racedads been round tonight and he's got a problem with his E36 Alpina B3 3.0.
Nothing to bad but we're not sure what it is.
When the car is moving, and under acceleration it's mine, when you back off and 'freewheel' there is a nasty rubbing noise from the passenger side rear wheel.
He's had the wheels off, nothing visable is catching, he's fitted new discs and pads on the back which apparently made the noise slightly quieter but not much.
My guess is somesort of driveshaft or diff issue but has anyone got any ideas?

[raceboy]

It sounds just like a piece of metal catching another piece of metal once a revolution, you can only really hear it at walking speed, above that it's hard to hear over engine/road noise.

[Shropshiremike]

Handbrake linings OK?

[raceboy]

Shropshiremike said:

Handbrake linings OK?

Well the handbrake holds, but it's another thing on the list, I don't think they are that strightforward to check...but could be wrong.

[chrisr29]

If you jack the car up and spin the wheel does it still do it?

If it doesn't then check the tyres for stones. I often get this with my 328 sport. I know it sounds fare fetched but the noise one little stone stuck in the tread makes is completely disproportionate to what you'd expect. It's like a fast, metalic clicking sound.

Alternatively it could be a rear drive shaft joint.

[raceboy]

chrisr29 said:

If you jack the car up and spin the wheel does it still do it?

Not sure as it's only been jacked up one side at a time and the wheels don't turn when the other is on the ground due to the Limited Slip Diff.

[dxb335d]

raceboy said:

It sounds just like a piece of metal catching another piece of metal once a revolution, you can only really hear it at walking speed, above that it's hard to hear over engine/road noise.

my e36 few years back started doing that. Was the diff in the end. Noise was worse off load as you say also. At first i thought it was exhaust bracket or something, untill it got really loud.

Edited by dxb335d on Thursday 17th July 13:45

[paul328m3]

My moneys on either disc back plate touching the disc or a wheel bearing.

[dxb335d]

Going off what he has said, it sounds exactly the same as what my e36 did when the diff started to give up.

[raceboy]

dxb335d said:

Going off what he has said, it sounds exactly the same as what my e36 did when the diff started to give up.

Sounds expensive...

[dxb335d]

raceboy said:

dxb335d said:

Going off what he has said, it sounds exactly the same as what my e36 did when the diff started to give up.

Sounds expensive...

BMW quoted 1500 quid for a new diff. I got a 2nd hand one for 150 i think and got it fitted.

[raceboy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Pretty sure it'll be a LSD on a Alpina B3.