loud noises coming from rear of the car? - e30 325i sport

Thu May 05, 2011 7:59 pm

i am gettin some loud noises coming for the rear of the car it kinda sounds like a rubbing grinding noise mostly when cornering ( im thinking the LSD ?? ) what would cause this tho if it was the diff ,, i checked the oil in it the other day and was at the level it should be and looked clean so im lost really ??

any help would be great Thanks

Thu May 05, 2011 9:01 pm

might be something as simple as a wheel bearing is it when your cornering in both dierctions?

Thu May 05, 2011 9:08 pm

yeah both dierctions ,, its really loud when you are doing low speed manovering but not as loud when moving faster so i ruled out wheel bearing out as would be louder with speed surely ? and they all feel tight and no movement anywhere else i can see

Thu May 05, 2011 9:53 pm

Does sound like diff problem. does it sound a bit like it's crunching the more lock you have on but fine in a straight line?

Fri May 06, 2011 6:13 pm

not saying your wrong but all wheel bearings dont have movment in them, they can still feel tight and be gone and i have had bearing make noise when going slow and quit down when i went faster, i just replaced my rear onces and was noisey but tight and they where proper humped
dont know if you fix you own but best way i would say is to spin the wheel and hold the back of the hub area and you feel if its gone for sure.

Fri May 06, 2011 7:19 pm

Jack the back end up if you can, and turn one wheel, if it does the crunch noise i'd imagine diff bearings.

Not sure how the diff's on these are put together but it's common on freelanders on rear diff. they make the noises you describe and eventually feel like they're grabbing the wheels the tighter you turn, how i imagine a welded diff would feel with good tyres on.

Mon May 09, 2011 7:56 pm

yeh ive had a long hard look and listen and i think it is the diff ,, its really bad now crunching and grinding ,,, had it jacked up and stopped one of the wheels from spinning and it was crunching like mad got under the car and sound like it was coming from the diff ,, so a new diff is in order i reckon ,, then might get this LSD rebulit in time

ohh well thanks for the input

Thu May 19, 2011 3:50 am

Prop center bearing. worn rubber inside or shagged bearings. Its grindgin as it leans.

Wheel bearings will make that noise whilst going straight.

diff wont make that type of noise.

I had the exact same probelm.

When i took the prop off i span the bearing and there was my noise. Check it out.