D3 thudding noise coming from rear

[simpin68]

Hi

Looking for suggestions from D3 brains trust for my 2005 HSE with 200k. I have searched for similar problem to mine without much success.

I have a noise that is really annoying me. It is thudding/thumping noise coming from the rear and it feels like the right hand side. It is most noticeable with a load and under acceleration but is also noticeable when driving on my own and coasting down a hill. It has a slow frequency slower than a wheel or axle or drive shaft so I don't think it is those. I had an indie check it out and they charged me for front wheel bearing and said there was some diff noise but not bad.

Occasionally the noise is missing all together??

I would like to get to the bottom of it as I am about to go on a road trip from melb to darwin with the wife and kids and I don't want my car to end up on the back of a truck like a previous post today.

The car had its gearbox serviced before I bought it. I haven't tried rotating wheels but I reckon I will over the coming days.

Any suggestions most welcome.

[Ean Austral]

I have read where the top bushes wear on the rear suspension. I know the front lower control arm bush is a well known issue, but I have read and been told that the rear top bush wears after however many ks , a lot more than the front bushes anyway.


I am unsure how you check it , but someone must know of a simple jack up test.


Good luck.


Cheers Ean

[simpin68]

Thanks for the suggestion Ean but I forgot to mention that the frequency increases with the cars speed and is independent of revs/gear. So I am pretty sure it is drivetrain related.

It is most noticeable between 40 and 60. At 100 it is pretty good.

[Ean Austral]

Thanks for the suggestion Ean but I forgot to mention that the frequency increases with the cars speed and is independent of revs/gear. So I am pretty sure it is drivetrain related.

It is most noticeable between 40 and 60. At 100 it is pretty good.



So did they check the rear wheel bearings ? My front bearing was noticeable at 60 -80 and only if you listened as when you got above 80 it was all but gone.


I am no expert but if it was the diff I would assume it to be constant.


I know the front bushes were more noticeable at certain speeds.


Cheers Ean

[simpin68]

Ean

That does sound like mine with the speed and I would be happy if it was as easily fixed as a bearing.

Did yours make that sort of noise though? I thought bearings were more of a crunching, grinding noise from what I have read on this forum?

Mine is a thud, thud, thud, thud.

(Sorry, noises are hard to describe in writing)

Simon

[Ean Austral]

Ean

That does sound like mine with the speed and I would be happy if it was as easily fixed as a bearing.

Did yours make that sort of noise though? I thought bearings were more of a crunching, grinding noise from what I have read on this forum?

Mine is a thud, thud, thud, thud.

(Sorry, noises are hard to describe in writing)

Simon


To be honest our youngest daughter picked it as the car is my wife's daily driver so I after driving my work ute the D3 is just a quiet vehicle, but once I was told about it I paid more attention and sure enough heard it, I would say more of a off pitch hum really but as you say unless its a BANG its hard to explain.


I would just jack the car up 1 wheel at a time leaving the wheel studs tight , once the wheel is off the ground grab the tyre top and bottom and try and move it towards you with 1 hand and away with the other, if there is play in the wheel then your wheel bearing is in need of attention. You may even hear the noise just by doing that.


Cheers Ean

[LandyAndy]

There is heavy swinging weight on my D4 back there,I bet the D3 has one too.
Make sure its swinging freely and not hitting anything to pass its vibrations on.
Andrew

[DiscoDB]

There is heavy swinging weight on my D4 back there,I bet the D3 has one too.
Make sure its swinging freely and not hitting anything to pass its vibrations on.
Andrew

Yes the D3 has the same.

[justinc]

Out of round tyre? Still could possibly be the rear differential maybe a carrier bearing or crownwheel?

[simpin68]

There is heavy swinging weight on my D4 back there,I bet the D3 has one too.
Make sure its swinging freely and not hitting anything to pass its vibrations on.
Andrew

Nope, mine's a girl. Just ask my Kids

[simpin68]

Out of round tyre? Still could possibly be the rear differential maybe a carrier bearing or crownwheel?

Swappy tyres around on the weekend and checking bearings while I'm at it. The pessimist in me agrees with the Diff being the culprit.

The funny thing is I caught a cab home Friday night from the footy and the falcon cab I was in was making the same noise. I know they share the same gear box so it made me wonder if this was the cause. The driver didn't speak english so I didn't bother asking him what he though the noise was.