Scraping noise from rear when not under load - help needed

[Beeby]

Hi guys,

My mark 1 1.6 makes a scraping / grinding noise from the rear axle area when the car is not under load. As soon as I put my foot on the accelerator the noise disappears. It also disappears when I put my foot on the clutch. It started making the noise a couple of days after I took the car in for a service. I had a decat pipe fitted during the service but I don't think that it is related to that. I laid up the car for 4 months over the winter. I am wondering if the rear brakes are binding and would it cause the symptoms I describe? I would appreciate peoples thoughts as it is worrying me.
Cheers.

[molineux1980]

Does the noise go when you press the brake?

[skinny]

this is the infamous 'scraping from the rear' noise. my car had it from teh start so i changed the clutch as i figured it was the clutch release bearing. however, i gave it to mr clutch to fit an i'm not convinved they fitted the new bearing as the noise was still there afterwards. however, it's remained and nothing has broken for the last 5 years, it's just annoying.

some people have reported fixing it by jacking up the diff, loosening off the PPF / diff and doing it up again but i can't get the bolts undone to try...!

[tuttle]

Thoroughly check all heat shields, brackets & fastenigs etc 1st too.

I recently had exactly the same thing, made an awefull racket. Took ages to find the exact source of it too.

[5harp3y]

tuttle said:

Thoroughly check all heat shields, brackets & fastenigs etc 1st too.

I recently had exactly the same thing, made an awefull racket. Took ages to find the exact source of it too.

and it turned out to be ......

[tuttle]

5harp3y said:

and it turned out to be ......

OOPs sorry, bit pointless without an explanation!

Main back box shield fastener was the culprit, right at the front, so not too easy to see without getting properly jacked up.