Rumble...could be final drive?

My '83 GTI has developed a rumble which gets especially bad above 70mph. I suspect it might be the final drive - jacking up the front end and turning the wheels makes a nasty noise I'm pretty sure it's not the UJs.

Any ideas?

You're probably right about the UJ's - they usually make you aware that they are worn by clacking loudly when the steering is fully locked over to one side (3-point turns, etc)

Sounds like the front hub bearings - if it is, it will be loud rumbling/humming noise, directly related to the speed of the car (rather than what gear you're in, engine load, etc). It may get louder on only left or only right-hand corners if the bearing on one side is worse than the other, but this is only the case if one has been damaged earlier in it's life - they usually begin to fail together.

I'm familiar with this issue, because my daily driver ('93 Audi 80 2.0 16v Estate) has 150,000 miles on it and the front bearings are now audible at any speed over 25mph (New ones already bought, garage appointment to be made)

How many miles are on your car/on the bearings?

Sounds very miuch like a front bearing to me. They are very wide bearings, and because the rumble travels so efficiently thru' the bodywork it's very hard to pinpoint. Jack up each wheel and rotate it. You should feel roughness in the culprit.

Thanks guys, I'll check it all out - car's done 127000 miles so I'd be grateful if it's the bearings and not the final drive…I intend to start my restoration in September so I might leave it til then