prop bearing replacement?

Hi all

May be getting ahead of myself a bit as I haven't had much of a chance to diagnose the fault fully, is it possible to replace the centre prop bearing myself or is it a trip to a specialist to have it changed and balanced?

Have had a slight bearing type noise from the rear since I have owned the car(4 yrs) but hasn't got any worse and there is no play at the hubs and no noise when spinning the wheels jacked up. On saturday had a slight squealing/creaking noise which sounded like it was behind the dash/ handbrake area, but on the next trip it was gone. Yesterday the missus rang me on her way back from school to tell me it sounded like there was a screaming cat stuck under the car, loud enough to make her ears bleed. It is very loud and starts as soon as the car starts moving and stops instantly when stopped. Hard to pinpoint but sounds like it is from the prop but seems to travel right through the car and at all the hubs. If I reverse slightly the sound is gone and comes back a few miles down the road.

I'm assuming it is a prop bearing but haven't seen mention that these fail on a regular basis.

Any advice appreciated

R.

No one had a prop bearing fail?

Seeing as nobody has answered yet....

I've not had a bearing fail personally and not heard of anyone I know have one fail. It may be worth getting a second hand propshaft complete and trying that first

Have a look at the diff bearings.

Thanks for the replies, I'll take the prop off and have a look, a s/h replacement to try would be good. Would rather repair the one I have, as things go wrong with the car I'm trying to either replace with new or 'upgrade'. The car it is that age/mileage that others must be suffering the same failures, strange this one hasn't come up before. If single piece props weren't so costly I'd probably go that way.

I'll have a look at the diff bearings too thanks antno

Thanks again. Any help appreciated.

R.

It's possibly a seized rear caliper or caliper carrier pin(s). Jap spec brakes? The sound "travels" up the drivetrain. Never known a centre prop support bearing squeal, especially at very low speeds.

Thanks chris, I'm just on my way down to have a look. It starts as soon as the car moves and is v loud, sounds like a brake noise. If I crouch down by each wheel it sounds like it comes from under the seats and is the same at all four corners. I hate noises like this as it isn't doing it now, but when it does the car is undrivable as its so loud. The brake idea sounds feasible as the noise stops when going backwards then forwards, like a pin is displaced. But then could easily be a bearing stuck in a carrier.

Want to come and have a look?

R.

Take it for a drive and feel each rear caliper and see if one is getting a lot hotter than the other. Certainly my money would be on a seized rear caliper, especially if they are J-Spec ones. I probably have a good used, or could rebuild yours, or supply a stainless piston and a seal kit if required.

Lol, I keep meaning to get in touch to get a price on a full set of pistons(jspec) front and rear as I have had issues with seized calipers. It had just come back from a 20 mile drive the other day and was the first thing I checked, They were all cool to touch as I freed them up over christmas

I'll give you a ring at some point regardless of where this noise is coming from

Thanks for your advice

R.

Does it still make the noise when you put the clutch in and disconnect the engine from the rest of the drivetrain? Does the pitch of the noise change depending on road speed?

Noises like you describe have often been caused by a stone stuck between a brake disk and the stone guard, worth a check

Does it still make the noise when you put the clutch in and disconnect the engine from the rest of the drivetrain? Does the pitch of the noise change depending on road speed?

 

Noises like you describe have often been caused by a stone stuck between a brake disk and the stone guard, worth a check

Thanks for the reply Ian, Sorry should have said its an auto. It 'was' very loud, didn't really change pitch etc, was there at any speed and is now gone.

I have been all over the drivetrain and tried all ways to replicate it. It could have been a stone stuck somewhere but wasn't specific to any wheel, possibly in the prop. I'm sure it will be back as it did sound pretty terminal. The stone idea is feasible as after putting it into reverse both times and then D it stopped straight away but came back later.

Thanks again

R.

Yes, good call Ian, a stone or debris behind the disc shield is a likely cause. They sometimes wear down and just drop out.

absolutely agree, but its hard to describe a noise, this definitely wasn't a stone behind a shield. It was the same from all four wheels and was coming more from the centre of the car. I hope it was just a bit of debris in a uj or more likely the centre prop bearing carrier. I have seen some youtube clips of a mercedes sprinter with a knackered centre prop bearing and it was very similar.

There is a fair bit of play in the centre bearing mount, my first thought was that it had become separated from the bearing carrier but can't see how this would be possible.

It was a screaming/squealing that made me cringe as soon as the car moved even just rolling in neutral.

In a strange way I'm hoping it comes back.

Thanks for the advice

R.

Could have been something behind one of the two bearing deflectors on the centre bearing, they are like mini brake disc stone shields? Here are the parts breakdown illustrations. 37341, and 37342.

I've said it before but you are a star Chris, thanks for that.

I'll get it up on a ramp in the next few days as there should be some marks from whatever it was.

Rob

I have been under the car and can see a 1" wide rub mark on the prop about 6" in front of the centre bearing. Not sure what it could have been as it is more polished than grooved. It is just above the shroud so it is possible that something was stuck in there but nothing untoward happened when the noise started and there is nothing there now. No noise for the last 100 miles so all good....?I hope

Thanks for all the advice it is appreciated

R.

Neighbour's cat hasn't suddenly become a Manx has it?

Lol, It did sound like it, It could also explain why I have 2 'farm' cats sat here with 3 legs living the life of luxury in my front room. best £800 I ever spent although a centre prop bearing would be cheaper I'm sure.