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[terry paget]

2.5 manual petrol estate GTX
My son Jonny had this car for the last five months, in which he has covered 6000 miles. He returned it yesterday, told me going perfectly apart from message about high dipped beam.
He did not mention the howling noise from the rear of the car, varying with road speed, and not varying with turning left and right - weaving along the road, test for worn wheel bearing. Noise is a whine, not a rumble. I have checked diff oil level, it's OK. Previous owner, ajsphead forum member, has changed the diff before, had it done by Swiss Valley garage, I jhave the invoice. I went for a drive with the wife sitting in the back seat, she comfirmed noise was 'central' and did not vary with turning. It was a 'sweet' noise, could be air leaking in or out, she said.
I reckon it's worn diff, but would like to be sure before I change it. Are there any more tests I can perform?

[zirk]

In my experience its rare for a Diff to whine, Wheel Bearings seem to go before then, more common on Estates. 

[frostbite]

If the oil is low it can make a droning sound

[terry paget]

Sadly oil was not low.
The n/s rear wheel bearing was droning on my earlier 2.5 estate, this noise is higher pitched. I had diffs whining on my Senators, changed 2 of them. Mileage is 175707, sort of mileage when the Senators became noisy. On my previous wheel bearing Omega, when I drove down the road weaving left and right, the drone would come and go as the worn wheel bearing was loaded and unloaded, thta is why I suspect it is not wheel bearing.

But I am uncertain. Could it be prop shaft bearing? In the past I have had them banging with broken rubber mounts. Could it be gearbox? If so should it not be silent in 4th gear?

[Doctor Gollum]

Are the diff mounts still intact?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Generally a diff will vary its noise dependent on engine load, does it go quieter when lifting off?

[terry paget]

Generally a diff will vary its noise dependent on engine load, does it go quieter when lifting off?

No.

[terry paget]

Are the diff mounts still intact?

Good point. Are you referring to the actual diff mounts, or the rear sub frame mounts that we refer to as diff mounts?
I will have a look.

[Doctor Gollum]

Are the diff mounts still intact?

Good point. Are you referring to the actual diff mounts, or the rear sub frame mounts that we refer to as diff mounts?
I will have a look.

Anything other than the donut bushes

[TD]

Has your son put new tyres on the back, since he's had it...

Ive had a couple of sets of cheap tyres that gave a god awful whine....was glad to get rid of them....just an idea 

[biggriffin]

Wheel bearing.

[Entwood]

The only way we diagnosed my faulty diff - a few years back now - after already changing a rear bearing that didn't solve the problem ... was to jack the rear of the car up and support on sturdy axle stands, then, with the wheels off, jack each rear suspension up on the bottom "knuckle" until the drive shafts looked level   ie .. in the "normal" driving position relative to the diff...... then to run the car in gear. As soon as I got under it was very obvious that it was the diff, both by the location of the noise and the vibration that could be felt when placing a hand on the diff.

Replacement used diff from RobG and all was, and still is, good ..

[terry paget]

Are the diff mounts still intact?

Good point. Are you referring to the actual diff mounts, or the rear sub frame mounts that we refer to as diff mounts?
I will have a look.

Anything other than the donut bushes

Pics follow of bushes. Thye look normal

[Doctor Gollum]

OSR subframe mount looks out of place...

Diff supported, do the drop if the two vertical mounting bolts are removed?

[terry paget]

Apologies for lack of labelling. They were, in order: LH mount, Front mount, RH mount, all mounts, Front mount again. I omitted rear sub frame mount, here it is