Droning noise from the front of the car

[PhilD]

I have just spent the day changing the offside front wheel bearing on my Maestro 1.3L in the belief that a low pitched droning evident from about 30mph upwards was due to wear. The noise is still there, so I guess that I might have picked the wrong side, because it's very difficult to be sure of the exact location. Before I go to the trouble of changing the other bearing, is there any other likely cause of this sort of noise in the transmission? The noise is there with the clutch engaged or disengaged and does not seem to change much whether or not power is being transmitted.

[D87 SMW]

If it is when the car is moving, whether with the clutch engaged or not, it will probably be the wheel bearing. I changed one side and it was still there, until I changed the other. :o

Having driven some distance like this in my old 1.6 VP (and a 'death drive' in a 1.3HLE) I can only describe it as being like a Lancaster bomber in flight. :laugh:

I think CV joints usually clunk rather than rumble, though...

[PhilD]

I think that the analogy to a Lancaster bomber is very accurate and gives me some confidence that I have diagnosed correctly. In fact I described it as exactly that when I was pointing it out to my wife. I think that I had the same problem with my old Maestro HLE when I changed a bearing on that and found that I'd picked the wrong one. The reason I hesitate to tackle the other side this time is that the new type cartridge bearing is so much more difficult to change than the old two bearing arrangement. At least I've done it once now so it will be easier second time, and I'll probably bite the bullet at the weekend.

[talkingcars]

CV joint sounds like a pencil being rolled across a table when turning on full lock, I'd go for the other wheel bearing and then you'll have 2 new ones.

[maestroman23]

i've got the same noise in my van...been like it for at least 30k miles so maybe worth changing the bearings:idea:

[E_T_V]

i've got the same noise in my van...been like it for at least 30k miles so maybe worth changing the bearings:idea:

If it has been like it that long then chances are the hub is now worn and so fitting a new bearing is unlikely to fix it. (Its a common fault with the vans)

[PhilD]

I eventually discovered, after much trial and error with various wheel bearings and drive shafts, that the noise was from the gearbox! I guess it must be the output bearings or possibly the diff, but as soon as I swapped the gearbox with the one off my old 1985 car, the noise went.
I'm a bit disappointed about this because the problem box was on a car that has only done 35000 miles and the replacement unit has done around 100000, so I don't know how long it will last. The only known problem now is a slight weakness on 2nd gear synchro, so I have to change up and down slowly to avoid crunching, especially when the car is cold. I would like to overhaul the faulty gearbox if possible, but does anyone know if spare bearings are available, assuming I strip it down and can locate the cause of the problem?

[maestroman23]

my gearbox has done 312,000 miles without an oil change...do you think changing the oil would lessen the noise somewhat ...if it is that on mine too

[henocsr]

my gearbox has done 312,000 miles without an oil change...do you think changing the oil would lessen the noise somewhat ...if it is that on mine too

LOL i think it may help