D2 Transmission Noise

Anyone got any ideas here?

On a long drive, fully laden last night. After about 50 miles at 65mph, I slowed down to a roundabout, and as I got below 10mph, an odd noise, apparently coming from the rear underneath. It sounds a bit like a pushbike freewheel hub but louder/deeper. Like a ball bearing in a large tin...

The noise has a pattern, 3 "clicks" then a short break, 1 click, a short break, then the 3 clicks again. This varies with road speed, and doesn't change whether in gear of freewheeling. Seems to happen about once per wheel revolution (ish).

Above 15mph can't hear the individual noises for the AT tyres and other engine/normal LR noises...

I'm sure that at higher speeds I can hear a bit of a rumble (like a whel bearing-type noise).

The car - owned by me from new, 2002 TD5, 178000 miles. well serviced (i greased all the propshaft UJ's just a couple of weeks ago), decent lubes in all transmission about 10 months ago (I do the transmission oils every 2 years),

Been under this morning, no obvious play in either prop shaft. Jacked & rotated each wheel in turn, no obvious noise there... Handbrake seems to work ok as normal.

Any ideas?

i would change transmission including diffs at least yearly, noise on over run is often diff especially brg nearest prop flange ,prop can sieze in uj before wear is evident would need one end off to tell, you can also drain a little oil out of each diff or box to check for contamination,wheel brgs could be cecked for condition by removing drive flange ,retaing nut and outer brg

OK - I am a muppet!

It was the driver's side rear wheel - it was loose!

I just happened to notice one of the wheel nuts looked loose, and it was! Along with a couple of others! The wheel has been on 2 years since I had the wheels re-painted, and new AT2's installed. I'm sure I would have torqued it up.

Glad it's nothing more serious...

Thanks James for the reply.