P38 Rangie donk, donk, donk noise - driving me nuts now!

OK, now I've got the engine replaced it was time to sort the other
faults. Most were minor and now done, but there's a noise that's
driving me nuts! Been steadily getting worse over the last year.
While driving, there is a constant donk, donk, donk. Only while
moving, it is fairly quiet in a straight line, bit more noticeable
driving left corners and very noticeable on right corners. Varies with
road speed not engine speed or which gear I'm in, still there if I
coast in neutral, doesn't go with brake application. Guessing it's
donking about 2 or maybe 3 times to each road wheel revolution. I can
estimate it's coming from the front of the vehicle, but hard to tell,
though I can slightly feel it through the steering wheel and the floor,
especially when going round roundabouts. No shaking of the wheel or
anything that drastic, but can feel the donking. Easier to hear with
the windows closed.

Can't detect any play or roughness in any wheel bearing front or rear,
prop shaft UJ or diff/gearbox flange (at least not evident by hand),
though the front left wheel bearing (and CV) were changed. Noise
persisted. Mechanic friend swore it was the front diff, changed that
for a recon unit, noise persisted. Ahhhhh! What's making my donk,
donk, donk????? I've even changed the transfer box front output shaft
bearing as there was slight play in it. Wasn't that either. I don't
think it's the viscous coupling as there's no tyre scuffing or
squealing on full lock in car parks etc. I'm guessing it's something
on the front as changing steering input alters the severity of the
noise. So what is it???? It's driving me nuts!!!

Alan C

'98 P38 4.6 HSE
'87 Rangie EFi Classic

[email protected] <[email protected]> uttered summat worrerz
funny about:
> OK, now I've got the engine replaced it was time to sort the other
> faults. Most were minor and now done, but there's a noise that's
> driving me nuts! Been steadily getting worse over the last year.
> While driving, there is a constant donk, donk, donk. Only while
> moving, it is fairly quiet in a straight line, bit more noticeable
> driving left corners and very noticeable on right corners. Varies
> with road speed not engine speed or which gear I'm in, still there if
> I coast in neutral, doesn't go with brake application. Guessing it's
> donking about 2 or maybe 3 times to each road wheel revolution. I can
> estimate it's coming from the front of the vehicle, but hard to tell,
> though I can slightly feel it through the steering wheel and the
> floor, especially when going round roundabouts. No shaking of the
> wheel or anything that drastic, but can feel the donking. Easier to
> hear with the windows closed.
>
> Can't detect any play or roughness in any wheel bearing front or rear,
> prop shaft UJ or diff/gearbox flange (at least not evident by hand),
> though the front left wheel bearing (and CV) were changed. Noise
> persisted. Mechanic friend swore it was the front diff, changed that
> for a recon unit, noise persisted. Ahhhhh! What's making my donk,
> donk, donk????? I've even changed the transfer box front output shaft
> bearing as there was slight play in it. Wasn't that either. I don't
> think it's the viscous coupling as there's no tyre scuffing or
> squealing on full lock in car parks etc. I'm guessing it's something
> on the front as changing steering input alters the severity of the
> noise. So what is it???? It's driving me nuts!!!
>
> Alan C
>
> '98 P38 4.6 HSE
> '87 Rangie EFi Classic

[email protected] <[email protected]> uttered summat worrerz
funny about:
> Can't detect any play or roughness in any wheel bearing front or rear,
> prop shaft UJ or diff/gearbox flange (at least not evident by hand),
> though the front left wheel bearing (and CV) were changed. Noise
> persisted. Mechanic friend swore it was the front diff, changed that
> for a recon unit, noise persisted. Ahhhhh! What's making my donk,
> donk, donk????? I've even changed the transfer box front output shaft
> bearing as there was slight play in it. Wasn't that either. I don't
> think it's the viscous coupling as there's no tyre scuffing or
> squealing on full lock in car parks etc. I'm guessing it's something
> on the front as changing steering input alters the severity of the
> noise. So what is it???? It's driving me nuts!!!
>
> Alan C

Not familiar with the P38 diff lock (if any?) set up but can you drop the
front prop of and take it for a run?


Lee D

Lee_D <[email protected]> uttered summat worrerz
funny about:

>
> Not familiar with the P38 diff lock (if any?) set up but can you drop
> the front prop of and take it for a run?
>
>
> Lee D

Another thought before I retire... deformation of the tyre?

Lee D

Lee_D wrote:
> Lee_D <[email protected]> uttered summat worrerz
> funny about:
>
> >
> > Not familiar with the P38 diff lock (if any?) set up but can you drop
> > the front prop of and take it for a run?
> >
> >
> > Lee D
>
> Another thought before I retire... deformation of the tyre?
>
> Lee D

I think I can remove either prop and drive on one axle, haven't tried
it yet. Hmm, deformed tyre, that's possible I guess. Had 2 new front
tyres recently, noise was there before, so I'll take each rear off and
swap for the spare, see what happens.

Alan C

> I think I can remove either prop and drive on one axle, haven't tried
> it yet.
>
Nooooooo, don't do it!! It'll bugger the viscous coupling up.

Alan,

I had a similar annoying noise on Piglet. Turned out the brake pads were
lifting and dropping back....worth checking you don't have a sticky caliper
or a slight deformation on the disc....

--
Neil

"Neil Brownlee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Alan,
>
> I had a similar annoying noise on Piglet. Turned out the brake pads were
> lifting and dropping back....worth checking you don't have a sticky
caliper
> or a slight deformation on the disc....
>
>
Shocker bushes? Loose prop or joints?

Martin

[email protected] wrote:
> OK, now I've got the engine replaced it was time to sort the other
> faults. Most were minor and now done, but there's a noise that's
> driving me nuts! Been steadily getting worse over the last year.
> While driving, there is a constant donk, donk, donk. Only while
> moving, it is fairly quiet in a straight line, bit more noticeable
> driving left corners and very noticeable on right corners. Varies
> with road speed not engine speed or which gear I'm in, still there
> if I coast in neutral, doesn't go with brake application. Guessing
> it's donking about 2 or maybe 3 times to each road wheel
> revolution. I can estimate it's coming from the front of the
> vehicle, but hard to tell, though I can slightly feel it through
> the steering wheel and the floor, especially when going round
> roundabouts. No shaking of the wheel or anything that drastic, but
> can feel the donking. Easier to hear with the windows closed.
>
> Can't detect any play or roughness in any wheel bearing front or
> rear, prop shaft UJ or diff/gearbox flange (at least not evident by
> hand), though the front left wheel bearing (and CV) were changed.
> Noise persisted. Mechanic friend swore it was the front diff,
> changed that for a recon unit, noise persisted. Ahhhhh! What's
> making my donk, donk, donk????? I've even changed the transfer box
> front output shaft bearing as there was slight play in it. Wasn't
> that either. I don't think it's the viscous coupling as there's no
> tyre scuffing or squealing on full lock in car parks etc. I'm
> guessing it's something on the front as changing steering input
> alters the severity of the noise. So what is it???? It's driving
> me nuts!!!
>
> Alan C
>
> '98 P38 4.6 HSE
> '87 Rangie EFi Classic

It could easily be a well shagged CV joint Alan. They usually make a sort of loud tick, but if it's gone
good & proper it could be that. It would fit with wheel rotation & possibly side deflection etc?

Very possibly a well fecked UJ too. they can make some real bad noises!

Nige

> It could easily be a well shagged CV joint Alan. They usually make a sort of loud tick, but if it's gone
> good & proper it could be that. It would fit with wheel rotation & possibly side deflection etc?
>
> Very possibly a well fecked UJ too. they can make some real bad noises!
>
> Nige

I'm assuming the problem is on the front as steering input alters the
intensity of the noise and can be slightly felt through the steering
wheel. As mentioned, I've changed the N/S/F wheel bearing (that wasn't
fun, 50 ton press and oxy acetylene) and CV, even though we couldn't
find any play what so ever. A worn CV would click on full lock, mine
don't, and anyway, you can feel play in a worn one when taken off.
I've changed the front diff and in so doing removed both hubs and CVs
(again). While they were off I rechecked the O/S/F for play in the
bearing and CV, can't find any. The prop shaft UJs are fine, but a
worn joint would cause a constant drone sort of noise, and much faster
than I'm getting? I don't think it's going to be suspension bushes,
they wouldn't make a rhythmic noise? You can see why it's driving me
nuts now! And making huge dents in my pocket with the expense of
needlessly changing bits. I'm now wondering about tyres, I'll swap one
at a time with the spare. Could be brake discs/pads, but very unusual.
Guess I'll put new discs and pads on next then

Alan C

[email protected] wrote:
>> It could easily be a well shagged CV joint Alan. They usually make
>> a sort of loud tick, but if it's gone good & proper it could be
>> that. It would fit with wheel rotation & possibly side deflection
>> etc?
>>
>> Very possibly a well fecked UJ too. they can make some real bad
>> noises!
>>
>> Nige
>
> I'm assuming the problem is on the front as steering input alters
> the intensity of the noise and can be slightly felt through the
> steering wheel. As mentioned, I've changed the N/S/F wheel bearing
> (that wasn't fun, 50 ton press and oxy acetylene) and CV, even
> though we couldn't find any play what so ever. A worn CV would
> click on full lock, mine don't, and anyway, you can feel play in a
> worn one when taken off. I've changed the front diff and in so
> doing removed both hubs and CVs (again). While they were off I
> rechecked the O/S/F for play in the bearing and CV, can't find any.
> The prop shaft UJs are fine, but a worn joint would cause a
> constant drone sort of noise, and much faster than I'm getting? I
> don't think it's going to be suspension bushes, they wouldn't make
> a rhythmic noise? You can see why it's driving me nuts now! And
> making huge dents in my pocket with the expense of needlessly
> changing bits. I'm now wondering about tyres, I'll swap one at a
> time with the spare. Could be brake discs/pads, but very unusual.
> Guess I'll put new discs and pads on next then
>
> Alan C

Full set of discs & pads wont cost you £100, a bad tyre wont do anything until it meets critical mass
time. As in the speed makes up for the out of alingness. I had a full set of unblanced wheels & tyres on
mine & it wobbled like feck, but no noise!

I dont suppose you have a badly bent wheel clipping the calipers etc. Even a well ****ted whell can still
balance mate.


BTW, my car does make a noise in car parks on full lock, I have NEVER had one that doesnt.

Nige

Nige <[email protected]> uttered summat worrerz funny
about:
> Full set of discs & pads wont cost you £100, a bad tyre wont do
> anything until it meets critical mass time. As in the speed makes up
> for the out of alingness. I had a full set of unblanced wheels &
> tyres on mine & it wobbled like feck, but no noise!
> I dont suppose you have a badly bent wheel clipping the calipers etc.
> Even a well ****ted whell can still balance mate.
>
>
> BTW, my car does make a noise in car parks on full lock, I have NEVER
> had one that doesnt.
> Nige

I'm not too proud to say I've had a loose wheel cause similar noises in the
past...comes with the job though.

Lee D

> I'm not too proud to say I've had a loose wheel cause similar noises in the
> past...comes with the job though.
>
> Lee D

Just swapped all the wheels one at a time for the spare, noise didn't
go away, so it's not wheels or tyres. Don't think it's anything
catching, I've looked and looked and shaked and wobbled. I'm thinking
of changing the front prop shaft UJs now, even though we can't feel any
play in them. There's nothing really left that's not been changed now!
Just the prop UJs and brake components, but I really doubt it's the
brakes.

Alan C