LCR driveline knocking/rumbling

Hi all,

You may have read a recent thread from me on wheel bearing replacement - that's done and I'm still getting noises so I'm wondering if anyone's experienced the same thing?

• Rhythmic buzzing and rumbling from front left when turning right
• Buzzing/rumbling stops immediately when clutch depressed
• Single metallic knock from centre of the car when setting off in a straight line from a stop
• Single metallic knock from centre of the car after beginning to reverse and then depressing the clutch
• No clicking on full lock
• No noise driving in straight line

Anyone shed some light on what this is most likely to be? Would an inner CV joint cause both noises, or am I looking at just an outer CV here? Driveshaft inner splines gone? Differential shot?


Thanks,

Alex

Good to know I'm not alone I've ordered an outer CV from David over at SERE (give him a ring if you ever need any SEAT parts!) but just hoping that I'm not wasting my money.. Rumbling whilst turning is an outer CV thing, and clunking when applying drive is definitely an inner CV thing - it could always be BOTH joints, but I am praying it isn't the diff! Obviously the noise whilst turning is most concerning to me.

Alex

Fitted the new left-hand outer CV joint last night - lump hammer was definitely required, as was a workmate bench.. Had to place a small chisel through one of the holes in the workmate top rested against the CV star and drive the hammer down with both hands to get it to pop over the wire clip!

Having thought the hard part was over, I then had almost the same fun driving the joint back onto the splines (hub bolt took a battering) - and then found I needed to be the Hulk in order to close the clips ('Clic-R' clips) (WITH the recommended tool). I placed the arms of the clip pliers through two holes in the workmate bench, then offered up the clip's notch to the jaws of the pliers whilst I tightened the workmate vice!

The ingenuity was for nought, though - whilst the noise took some time to appear, I was able to coax it into coming back once I found my favourite roundabout again. The inner CV movement seemed OK, but curiously it seems to be telescopic in some way - when I compressed the end and tried to articulate it, it did sound a little dry inside. Not sure if this is normal.

If anyone has any tips as to whether I try the inner CV or just start saving for a gearbox rebuild, much appreciated!


Alex

Well, now I feel like a plonker.. after testing again in the office carpark last night, I found that the noise came back whilst turning right, coasting with clutch down and blipping the throttle! Considering that in the last few months I've had the cat heat shield on the exhaust tack welded twice, this kind of revs-dependent noise was familiar to me.. Found this thread: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?p=3711484#post3711484 .. got under the car today.. and sure enough, the centre section has loads of play and is bumping into the chassis tunnel on the left only. Will buy some fresh rubber mounts and have the bracket welded next week! Rather glad it's not a diff failure... As for why it was so loud, I can only assume it is drumming literally on the exhaust tunnel. Of course it's not baffled either before this point.

Alex