Whirring noise

[Fin]

I have developed something of an issue lately:
I am getting a whirring noise, seemingly from the left side of the car at the rear (I am somewhat deaf in my right ear, so most things sound like they come from my left!!)
It is most noticeable when I hit the power from low revs (in traffic etc)
It disappears when I dip the clutch
It is there whether I am throttling or not
It is there if I coast in neutral
It relates to road-speed rather than engine-speed
I also get a noise like a dry bearing under heavy acceleration.
It seems to vanish at higher speeds (but I have a Pro-flow exhaust so it might be masking it.)

I am thinking along the lines of a knackered clutch, and the bearing noise possibly the thrust bearing.? Either that or a wheel bearing, but I just had my MOT done, surely they would have spotted a wheel bearing???
On a scale of 1 to God!! I wish I hadn't started this! How much of a PITA are the clutches on these? I always used to do my own, but that was back in the days of engine at front, drive at rear. I'm not sure on a transverse engine etc. Couldn't find a how to...

[1979scotte]

StuC had a team of helpers to do his.
Leethesparky must have done one because he has an up rated clutch to go with his Turbo. He is in Kent. Give him a PM.

[Fin]

Thanks. By the by, what is a "Stage 3" clutch? Do I need one?

[1979scotte]

Not if your car is standard.
I think LUK clutches have been mooted as a reasonable replacement.

[mr2garageswindon]

If the noise stops when you dip the clutch it sounds like gearbox bearings to me. Road speed related would also make gearbox a likely culprit. It would be nice if it turned out to be wheel bearing as cheaper job but with the info you have listed my first thought is gearbox bearings. Unfortunately quite a common problem. Either a bearing replacement (box strip) or used box I would imagine.

[cyclehead]

Just an idea, I had a plastic cover come loose from the gas tank area once.  It would drag at low speed, and disappear a higher speeds when the wind load lifted it up.  It sounded just like a bearing going bad.  Take a peek under the car just to be sure.

Also, wheelwell plastic liners can make some astounding noises when they contact the tire tread.  Might check wheelwells also.

[Fin]

Okay, thanks for that. One thing I forgot to mention, it doesn't happen all the time. I don't know if that makes any difference?

[Fin]

Having read a couple of "how to's"  dropping and re-fitting the gearbox looks reasonably do-able. A new clutch is surprisingly cheap from LUK (thanks for the pointer Scott   s:) s:)   )
Has anybody had their gearbox reconditioned? Any ideas how much I'm looking at for that?
Quite keen to do the job actually, keep the Beastie on the road for a few more years   s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:   and I always enjoy the feeling of accomplishment once I've finished something like that.
On, and is there a way to confirm whether it's the clutch or the gearbox?

[1979scotte]

I can take no credit of the LUK clutch heads up.
Just regurgitating info from a previous clutch thread.
You are most welcome all the same.

[Joesson]

I had a Mk 1 Hillman Imp when they were relatively new.
Easy enough to tell when the clutch was shot, it slipped.
The gearbox also started making a noise.
My Father in law worked at a Company that made Four wheel drive tractors out of regular rear wheel drive Ford tractors.
Of course this was just after the Industruial  Revolution ( Scotte)
The Imp' s gear box was stripped, repaired and reassembled by one of the guys at FIL ' s factory.
He likened it to repairing a watch compared to what he usually worked on!
That guy was probably replaced by a robot so not helpful to you.

[Ardent]

+1 on the LUK

[Fin]

I think I have tracked down the source of my annoying noise at last.
Having replaced the springs, droplinks and ARB bushes, it turned out not to be any of those   s:roll: :roll: s:roll:  . So, back under the car today for another look. Well, it wasn't raining that hard, so I thought I'd take a chance (as you do!!)
Since the noise was basically a rubbing kind of noise, with complications, I thought I'd have a closer look at the brakes (seized calliper etc being a possibility).
What I have found is a warped brake disc, which could easily be causing the problems I have been experiencing (rubbing with a knock/clunk which corresponds directly to road-speed).
Anyway, the question is:
I'm only planning to replace the rear discs (all four are quite new, I replaced all the discs and pads just over a year ago) the pads still have plenty of meat on them, and they are worn evenly. Given the small price difference between grooved and plain discs, and the fact that I am not replacing the plain discs on the front, do I go for plain discs again, or grooved on the rear, with plain on the front? (obviously I am planning to replace both discs on the rear, so they would be matched across the axle).
And: is a particular make of disc recommended over the others? Pure road use, with some "spirited" driving.

[gazza1286]

If a warped disc the noise would still be present when you dip the clutch?

[Fin]

Yeah, my original list of symptoms was a bit of a mess.
The noise is always there, although it is quieter at higher speeds. It is especially noticeable when pulling up, whether I'm using the brakes or not.

[1979scotte]

I have drilled/grooved on the front and groved on the rear theyre noisey on my car. Fronts will be replaced with quality standard items.

[gazza1286]

Ok - before you start shelling out, either drive past someone at the kerb who can confirm the noise is brake related. As the rear brakes suffer less than the front it's not normal for them to warp.
Anyway - if you're happy that's the problem I would strongly recommend Mintex discs and pads. I've used them on various cars over the last 20 years without any issues.

If you decide to source then from the likes of eBay - read the auction wording carefully - cheap deals will be mintex pads with no-brand discs. Some sellers are happy for punters to 'assume' that mintex discs are supplied by using misleading descriptions.

[StuC]

Just out off interest. What discs did you put on a year ago?

Also, do you hold the car of the foot brake or handbrake as a rule?

[Fin]

I can't remember exactly, possibly Einbach's? I often hold it on the foot-brake, habit from being a lorry driver ("they're called parking brakes, not hand-brakes" according to my old instructor  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  )

[Fin]

Okay, so  discs  changed, and part of my problem is  gone.
Now I am down to a weird  rubbing kind of  noise.
The noise is constant when I am moving. No variation in pitch etc. Clutch up or down, in gear or neutral, it is there.
It's louder under power, and I will swear that  it's either very close to the nearside rear wheel or directly from it.
I am running without any middle or rear nappy, and I  can't see any evidence of a rubbing brake anymore.
Any ideas before I hand over lots of cash for Mrt to have a look?:,

[topsyde]

I would jack the back of the car up at that side and see if there is any play in the wheel bearing and spin the wheel just to hear if there is any rubbing noise.
That's just my 2p worth

Jim

[gazza1286]

Wear in CV joint? Jack the rear up. Hold the drive shaft an see if there's any slack on the wheel - compare both sides.

There could also be excess slop in the gearbox crown wheels. With the rear of the ground rock the wheels back and forth to feel for excess rotational slack - compare both sides.

[Fin]

Thanks, back under there Tuesday. I'll try looking at the other end of the driveshaft a bit more. Sound does seem to travel once you start looking at transmission noise...

[Fin]

Oh well, back under the car today. Wheel off and turn hub, still had a noise. Stripped the brakes off, still had a noise. Head right under the car, the noise is from the gearbox (I'm big enough, and ugly enough to admit I was wrong about that!), sounds like it's from the very bottom of the gearbox where the nearside driveshaft enters it.
Since the noise seems to have started when I changed the gearbox oil last time, I thought I'd change it again. I drove home with the top down, so I don't know if it's gone (can't hear it with the roof down, it's not that loud).
Still sounds like a rubbing brake disc, and not overly loud. So I'm assuming it's a bearing grinding itself to death somewhere inside the gearbox. So that's a few days off, and a few hundred quid down the pan for a rebuild and a new clutch  s:( s:(
Good job I love these cars so much, or I'd be seriously hacked off!!!

[gazza1286]

Any metal flecks in the old oil? Also was the transmission filled to the correct capacity? This was hotly debated recently?

See

 l viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2221 l

[Fin]

I'd had a read through that one, which is what made me think of changing the oil again.
Got a. Small dribble from the top hole when I removed the top (inspection) plug on the side, so the level was about right.
No evidence of metal flakes etc in the old oil (didn't think to do a magnet test though d'oh!!).
The oil came out dirty and black, even though it's only been in a few months. Replaced it with Comma 85/90 because that's the best I could get at short notice. I'll give it a day or 2 to work it's way around the box. If there's no improvement, I can get it strippes and rebuilt for a couple of hundred with a 2 year guarantee. If there is some improvement, I might lob some mt90 in there, since that seems best for our cars...