Need Advice, ideas, and help to solve my mystery sound.....

[Pomwa]

About 2/3 weeks ago a noise starting coming from the front end. It only happens while under load and only when
driving (above 20kms) not when stationary. The noise is a constant whilst driving and decreases at the same rate
as my braking.

Heres my what its not/what i've done/what it could be:

- Its not the power steering pump because i know what sound that makes as my Soarers' is on the way out
and the noise isnt localised to turning only.

- Its not the lower engine mounts cos i just changed them today, front and back both cracked and well on their way
out (thanks again Chris) and the noise was still there, although the shakes had disappeared

- Its not the CV joints as there is no obvious knocking sound when on hard lock left or right

- I dont think its any of the boots as i had a look while i was under there today and none of them appear split
and theres not fluid/gunk everywhere

- I dont think its the wheel bearings as the wheels spun freely while i had it up on jacks

- No loss of fluids: oil/tranny/power

- Dont think its the gear box as the noise is still there whilst in Neutral and just coasting

- Its not the exhaust

- Dont think its the brake pads as i had them changed (about 6 months ago) as well as getting the rotors machined at the same time

Which leaves me with a couple of ideas of what it might be:

- Tyres are on there way out and its increased "road noise" im hearing. To test that im going to rotate my tyres and
see it the noise is still there. If it is i'll put on my original 15s and see if its still there.

- Its the drive shaft(s)................ Does anyone know how i can check/test if the drive shafts are on there way out, or if theres an issue with the tranny??

Have the usual squeeks and creeks synonimus with the upper/lower control arms but they've always been there
and this noise is a recent thing.
Engine sounds fine with the bonnet up and when sitting in the car, just the usual tappit noise

I know its had to diagnose the origin of a noise without hearing it yourselves...... the best i can describe it as a "drone" that increases with speed, is a steady "drone" when as a constant speed, and decreases in its droni-ness at the same rate as i
brake

So experts, self acclaimed experts, back yard mechanics, and post whores......... whats you verdict??

[payaya]

Is it me or you have not described what the sound sounds like???

[Pomwa]

Is it me or you have not described what the sound sounds like???

Paragraph near the bottom:

"the best i can describe it as a "drone" that increases with speed, is a steady "drone" when as a constant speed, and decreases in its droni-ness at the same rate as i brake"

As i said "the best i can describe it"

[dstocks]

Without more info, id guess driveshafts. Are the CV boots in good condition?

[payaya]

Ah crap read it too quick!

I know you said your wheels spin smoothly, but is there any play in your bearings?

[vipfto]

that sounds like tyre noise to me

[payaya]

that sounds like tyre noise to me

But thats a gradual increase. But then again sometimes it's your head thinking too much.

[Pomwa]

Without more info, id guess driveshafts. Are the CV boots in good condition?

Yeah boots look good, as i said had a checkers while i was under there this arvo and there
was no obvioius splits or crap all over the place.

As for tyre noise it could very well be that and that i've never noticed the noise steadily increasing
as i usually drive with the windows down and the stereo up, but since its getting a lot colder in Canberra
ive started driving with the windows up and thats around the time i noticed the noise.

Anyone know how i can check if its the drive shafts......... without pulling them appart that is?
If it is the shafts would it make the same noise if i put the car up on jacks and stuck it in drive? (securing the rear of course)

[I8A4RE]

that sounds like tyre noise to me

THIS

[Bennoz]

Pommie, sounds like inner CV's are worn to me. Unfortunaltey not easy to check without pulling the shafts out. You can twist the whole shaft back & forwards while still in car. By default there will always be a little play on the inner sides (outer sides should tight) but you really ought get another FTO without the noise, so you can compare..

Does the car do a lot of long distance driving when you're in town? Have the outer CVs been replaced before?

[Pomwa]

Pommie, sounds like inner CV's are worn to me. Unfortunaltey not easy to check without pulling the shafts out. You can twist the whole shaft back & forwards while still in car. By default there will always be a little play on the inner sides (outer sides should tight) but you really ought get another FTO without the noise, so you can compare..

Does the car do a lot of long distance driving when you're in town? Have the outer CVs been replaced before?

Have recently done a trip to and from Melbourne and it was not long after getting back that i noticed the "noise" and as for the outer CVs being replaced, i havn't done them and ive had the car for 3 years.

So what sort of price am i looking at to replace them (inners and outers), and does anyone have any part numbers if it looks like they need doing?

[Pomwa]

Sound found and fixed...... turned out it was the drivers side wheel bearing, now the only noises ive got are the usual
squeeks and creaks from worn bushes. Thanks all for the advice.

[bushido]

noticed a sound coming from passenger side front.

It sounds like a squeak or groan and only happens when you turn left or right. No sound going straight Happens with a small amount of lock and full lock when I come out the garage. No whirring so I dont think its the pump either.

Could it be low steering fluid level (what level should this be at??)??

CV boots?

I dont think its driveshafts

Steeing rack (how do I tell if this dies?)

[bushido]

**update**

plenty of power steering fluid
no driveshaft cv boots split

makes noise stationary when you turn left and right.
Noise is a groan/squeak/squeal

found grease on some rod thing.

what the heck is the rod thing that is above the flex pipe?

[Bennoz]

That'd be your steering rack...

[I8A4RE]

Id be checking your CV's while you are there too.

[bushido]

That'd be your steering rack...

Any idea where the grease would be coming from Ben?
Am I up for a new rack?

Steering rack boots are fine I think.

Driveshaft boots are definately intact.

[I8A4RE]

The grease would have been from your cv's, that is why I said to check them. If the boots are sweet it just means that whenever they were replaced, the grease was not cleaned up. That is very common.