sounds like a puncture ?

Recently my 90 has started making a dull thud noise from the rear nearside wheel. Frequency increases/decreases with speed but doesn't matter whether I'm in gear or not, still the same under breaking or acceleration.
Best description I can give is it sounds like a puncture, but the tyre is fully inflated.
Any suggestions ?
Cheers

Flat spot on tyre or wheel bearing about to collapse?

Could be many things, guess what you mean is repetitive sound while moving even with clutch in or coasting in neutral.
Scraping drum, or brake pads (though not a thud sound unless catching under tension).
Is it worse over bumps? could be shocks, maybe UJ, guess best thing is jack it up and spin the wheel and check for bearing play first.

It's a '97, 300tdi, so disks at the rear.
No noticeable difference when going over bumps and UJ's were done not long ago.
Reading up about wheel bearing symptoms it sounds like that may be it.

Think I'll have to jack it up and have a listen/feel.
Thanks for the advice.

Once jacked up (chock other wheels and leave handbrake off) rotate wheel and feel for grinding / noise also grasp wheel and try rocking it.
It will be very obvious if the bearing is at fault which sounds like it is.
Maybe its breaking up, worn or running dry, its not an expensive or difficult job to replace them

Not running remoulds are you?

I had the same symptoms and all became clear as a chunk of tread decided it didn't want to be attached any more and smacked of the underside of the landy

I'd go for flat spot / egg / tread new tyre should sort it but which one? If your spare is good it's show if you cycle the wheels

Grebby said:

Not running remoulds are you?

I had the same symptoms and all became clear as a chunk of tread decided it didn't want to be attached any more and smacked of the underside of the landy

Click to expand...

Yikes! No I'm not, they're general grabber At2's

I remember my father's SIII was making this noise down the motorway and it took us ages to find it.

A patch of rubber the size of my palm on the car side of the rear wheel was peeling away but hiding it's self in the shade.

I'm sure you would see something like this, but i've never got over the sight and would feel bad not suggesting it.