knock knock knock

[E_T_V]

Can anyone help diagnose my problem with my van

For a few months now there has been a knocking when cornering (particularly roundabouts) and more lately a rumble consistant with road noise when travelling in a straight line. I put this down to driveshaft and CV joint problems but maybe my diagnosis was wrong.

I swapped the driveshafts for ones that I thought were good that I had spare which made virtually no difference, (if anything they were a little worse). So I bought and fitted a new drivers side outer CV joint. This again made no difference so I bought and have just fitted a whole new passenger side driveshaft complete with both joints. You can probably guess what is coming next. Yes it is still making the noise!

I've checked all of the bearings for play and I can find none. The only "old" component is the drivers side inner CV but I really don't think it is this as the noise seems to be coming from the passenger side...

My only guess is wheel bearings but I can detect no roughness or play in them at the moment?

Has anyone got any ideas and has anyone got any spare van front hubs as the vehicle needs to be off of the road for as little time as possible..

[macwomble]

Not qualified to give you advice ETV!

But could it be something to do with your front brakes. Loose Caliper or something. Had a similar problem when I had my C15.

Graham

[E_T_V]

Hey anyone can give me advice! I'm pretty sure the knocking is more drive train related than the caliper or carrier but I'll take a look as I'm off out there to try and fix it now. The knocking is getting very loud rather than a tap tap tap.

[G Force]

Hi ETV wheel bearings sound most likely. Try tavelling in a straight line on a quiet road about 30mph and load the steering to the left and right to see if you get a change in noise. If you do I would say wheel bearings are the culprit.

To diagnose which side is always a tricky job on maestro montego because it depends on which race is damaged i.e. inner or outer race on inner or outer bearing. Normal behaviour is steer left and noise goes quiet, left bearing fault and vice-versa. But sometimes its best to trust your ears and your feet :)

[E_T_V]

Yes I've just got back in after changing the only CV joint which I didn't know for sure was good and guess what? Yes it is just as bad. I picked up a wheel bearing today for it in anticipation (single piece bearing) and I think I'll see if I can borrow my works hydraulic press. If not I'll get both hubs off (AGAIN!) and get a new bearing pressed into each one. I'm fairly sure it is the passenger side one but as I use it every day and the milage is so high I'm betting the other will shortly be needing replacement knowing my luck too. Oh well, it looks like it might not make it to Gaydon this weekend.

[G Force]

Best of luck, I must confess van wheel bearings arn't my favourite of all jobs, but they have to be done :(

[Jack]

I don't mean to scare you but I once had a Peugeot 205 which had the symptoms you describe. The garage even thought it was the driveshafts and changed them for me but the problem remained. It turned out to be a completely knackered gearbox.

Try getting some STP gearbox additive and see if the noise changes at all (if it is the gearbox you will probably find that the noise is muffled slightly). I had a Citroen Visa GTI with gearbox troubles and put some of this additive in and it then sounded perfectly silent. It's almost a modern day alternative to the old saw dust trick.

[E_T_V]

Well I've almost removed the hub and after everything is disconnected when I spin the hub the bearing sounds very dry and rough so I'm hoping it is this.

Its been so long since I've done one I can't remember and don't have a book to hand but do I need to remove the disc to get the bearing out? I have a feeling I do but I can't remember its been so long sice I did it. Anyone got a haynes to hand? As I'm doing it in my lunch hour.

[SimonR]

Hmm, I can tell you at about 13:40 if that's any good as I'm off home then for my lunch and have a haynes to hand.

I suspect that's too late though.....?

Let me know.

[E_T_V]

All sorted now. The disc has been undone from the drive flange and the caliper carrier removed but I think you have to press the drive flange out then press the bearing out which I couldn't do so it is now in a machine shop being done for me. Lets hope it is ready for tomorrow so I can put it all back together and lets hope the drive flange isn't worn out or I'm really in trouble then.

[E_T_V]

Right the wheel bearing is nw sorted and as with so much on this van it is a mixture of good news and bad news.

The good news is the drive flange wasn't worn excessivly (so the workshop told me) and that 90% of the noise has gone.

The bad news is that now I can hear the other bearing starting to make the exact same noise! ahh well it'll be another job to add to the growing list.