348 Bearring Noise

I've got an issue with what sounds like a bearring noise coming from the right rear of the car. It seems to be worse around sweeping left turns. It is nonexistant while going straight. I drained the gearbox oil and had virtually no glitter or debris. It does not change with speed but seems to be more intense with larger lateral g's. I have to coast with the clutch depressed to hear it otherwise the engine noise will be greater than the bearring noise. Both wheels spin good by hand and I have very little noise or play. The right side sounds ever so slightly louder but it's hard to tell. The differential stub shafts for the axles have about 1mm of play each and I was wondering if this is normal. With the inspection plate removed all gear meshing looks really good but I can hardly see up to the differential. What do you guys suggest I attack first? Remove axle shaft? Wheel bearring?

 

Hi Mark - some people who have changed their transaxle oil to Redline 75/90NS have had their gearbox chatter around corners. Could that be it? If so, adding a bit of Redline friction modifier to the gearbox can clear it up. Have you had the gearbox oil changed anytime recently? Other oils may also cause this problem.

 

I changed it about 1.5 years ago with Redline 75/90NS. Probably 2000 miles on it since then. What is the additive called? I bought the same oil this time as I had no problems until recently.

 

Remove your rear wheels and have a look at the condition of the axle hubs. Check to see if there is any lateral pay, there should be NONE. Then see how they spin. If you find play in on the hub shaft you will need to pay special attention to the ring nuts on back side of the axle connecting flange, they hold everything to the hub shaft. You will need to disconnect the outer cv joint (wheel side) to see the ring nut.

 

Forgot to mention something.

You will need to remove the caliper and the rotor to properly check for play on the hub shaft. If it turns out you need a bearing run search of the archives to find the part number for the skf bearing, I posted it a while back. Any good bearing shop can get you a new one, I got mine from Applied Industrial http://www.appliedindustrial.com/, or just take the old one with you and have them mic it.

 

Axle bearing

 

I had that noise and FatBillyBob told me to gradually pull on my emergency brake while driving slowly to see if it was the emergency drum brake failing on that side.

Sure enough, the noise went away when I applied a little manual ebrake pressure. I pulled off the wheels and replaced the inner ebrake drum mechanicals with OEM Ferrari parts and the problem was solved.

Cost: $80.

Anyway, the test is free. Worth trying!

 

Sweet! I was wondering about the e-brake hardware since the noise popped up about a month after I fixed the cable. Will try it.

 

VERY good tip Shemp, good lookin out!

I had completely forgot about that. I tried same thing when I had to replace my right side bearing. I actually just gutted the whole thing, and afterwards the noise was still there = bad bearing. I was hoping it was just bad parking break guts, but no luck, had to pull the right alse housing and replace the bearing.

This is why the 348 Brotherhood is the best, and why Stooges RULE!

 

I replaced #22 (4 of them) and #24 (2 of them, 1 per rear wheel) in this diagram: http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=FE&P=&V=diag&I=238