Whirring / knocking noise PLEASE HELP!!

Hi people,

My cab GTi has been making a strange noise for the last 2 weeks, it sounds like it's coming from the front passenger side whilst driving in a straight line or cornering.

It sounds like a rubbing / whirring kind of noise and when I apply the brakes it seems to disappear.

If I put it in neutral and free roll the noise is still present. I can select all gears fine.

I went to investigate. Jacked the car up and put it on axle stands so the wheels were of the ground. Once under the car the noise seemed to be coming from the gearbox and sounded more like a knocking noise.

I don't know what the likely cause is but if anyone can help point me in the right direction I will be most appreciate. Thanks Chris

Hi, Can anyone shed any light on this please.

Cheers Chris!

I had a similar noise once - my front wheel bearing had colapsed, so the wheel was sitting squint, with the brake disc rubbing on the slot in the caliper.  When I braked the disc was forced back into the middle of the slot and the noise disappeared.

With the car jacked up, hold the wheel at 12 and 6 o clock, and give it a wiggle, and again at 9 and 3 o clock looking for movement in the bearing. also spin the wheel round and feel for roughness, clicking etc from the bearing.

Ross

Thanks Ross! I did check for play in the wheel by wiggling top and bottom but all seemed ok. The knocking noise is definitely coming from the gearbox, I think it must be something gearbox, diff or driveshaft related.

Would this make sense if the noise goes away when braking.

does it only go away when braking, or does it go away when coasting?

Hi Chris, try knocking it out of gear as you roll down the road, brake slowly, see if the noise is still there.
 Have you checked the gear box for oil or lack off? Is there any oil lose?
Jack the car up and pull on the drive shaft, is their any play?
Have you checked your brake pads?
Just hope its not the Differential, other wise it sounds like a new box.

hopes this helps
Ash
 

Thanks Ash!

The noise is still present when I drive and knock it out of gear but when I brake slowly the noise dissapears.

Have not yet checked gearbox oil, there is some oil around the green ends that come out the box where the driveshafts attach but this may have been from a previous engine oil leak I had.

Not yet checked for play in the driveshafts, I will do this. Brake pads are fine, had them out and copper greased the backs and put back together.

I'm preying it's not new gearbox time!

This sounds very similar to knocking my GTIs making, disppears when braking.

I've replaced one CV joint thinking it was that but no joy. Everthings tight and nothing appear loose up front.

Come to conclusion G/B is dying. The oil that came out was dark-ish in colour and not the full 2 litres came out. That will teach me to check things and not put things off because it only does a few thousand miles a year….

Got hold of a replacement box and planning to spend some of Christmas hol lead on cold concrete floor giving the old girl some tender lovin care.

Old cars eh?

Old cars, nightmare!

Where did you get your replacement box from and how much it cost?

How do I check the gearbox oil level? Do I need to drain it out and then put fresh in. What oil should I use?

Keep me updated on how fitting your gearbox goes.

Thanks Chris

Ha chris
Right, now then, gear box oil try SAE80 or SAE80/90 hypoid to MIL L2105 spec.
To check the oil level, you will find two allen key nuts, i think they are on the left drive shaft, anyway the top one is to check the oil level, and the bottom one is to drain the oil. check the oil first by taking the nut out, if you get a dribble of oil come out from this hole then you don,t need any oil, but if you don,t get any oil come out then it probably needs some oil. normaly takes about 2.25 lts or about 4 pints on a complete change.
as for a box don,t worry about that yet.

Ash