Grinding noise when cornering

[epj3]

While accelerating from 40MPH through a 90 degree turn (Obviously big enough for a sloppy-old-suspension E30 to go 40mph through) in third gear, there is a pretty loud "grinding" noise. It almost sounds like an exhaust leak from the rear, its that loud. You can feel it through the car. It's coming from under the car and sounds like the rear. It goes away immediately when I'm out of the curve.

I replaced the clutch last weekend and I know the driveshaft went back together about 2 splines off from where it was before (Was marked from when I replaced the center bearing over the summer which I did put it back together correctly). I know I should've taken it back off and re-aligned it, but it wasn't off by much.

Anyways, under hard straight-line acceleration I can feel a slight vibration throughout the car - but it's very small and goes away before I shift to third gear. It did this after the CSB replacement (which I THOUGHT I put the driveshaft back together correctly, It sure looked like my lines were aligned).

I'm replacing the oil in the differential fluid tomorrow with the redline oil + the GM additive that was reccomended to me to take away the clutch noises in the final drive. It really sounds louder than the differnetial and doesn't sound like it's from back there.

Any Idea's? I'm REALLY hoping its the drive shaft. I'm going to be ripping the exhaust off again sometime during christmas break to replace the ENTIRE exhaust. So the driveshaft will be easily accessible.

[andreyiv]

I would think that the body bends a little and the drive shaft rubs against the exhaust or the underbody or whatever it can under there. Get a couple of your buddys to sit on one corner of your car (if the turn is a left turn, make them sit on the right rear corner, if its a right hander, left rear corner, if its both, well, doesn't matter then), while under the car see if the drive what is close to anything. Would need a nice ramp for this. Might be better off just looking underneath the car and feeling around to see where the drive shaft hit. Since it seems it does it for a while, it should have left marks. Good luck man.

[epj3]

I would think that the body bends a little and the drive shaft rubs against the exhaust or the underbody or whatever it can under there. Get a couple of your buddys to sit on one corner of your car (if the turn is a left turn, make them sit on the right rear corner, if its a right hander, left rear corner, if its both, well, doesn't matter then), while under the car see if the drive what is close to anything. Would need a nice ramp for this. Might be better off just looking underneath the car and feeling around to see where the drive shaft hit. Since it seems it does it for a while, it should have left marks. Good luck man.

Well... I HIGHLY doubt the body of the E30 would flex that much. When I jack one corner of the car up on my driveway, the entire SIDE of that car goes up. Thats using the factory jack. There are about 2" of clearance on each side of the driveshaft too. The center support bearing wouldnt allow it to move more than 3/4 an inch in each direction.

There's no way ANY driveshaft on ANY car would move enough to hit anything not associated WITH the driveshaft.

[andreyiv]

You listen to car talk, right? This dude had a mustang and his driveshaft would hit his exhaust (I think) when he would go over a bump. It made a grinding sound. Just figured thats what it might be here too, since you did say that you didn't put everything back the right way, it kinda does make a little sense.

[jrt67ss350]

Does the noise only occur when you are turning one direction (ie, only when turning right)? Was this happening before the clutch job, or did it start after the clutch job?

I really don't see how the noise could be the driveshaft. The driveshaft doesn't change position in these cars with suspension movement - since these cars have IRS, the differential is not floating - it is fixed to the car, so the driveshaft does not move when the suspension moves, no matter how hard you corner. The driveshaft should be nowhere near the exhaust in ANY car, unless someone did a really shitty, half-assed job making up an exhaust system for a car.

The vibration is probably drive-shaft/CSB related, but I'd be willing to bet the noise isn't. Sounds like you either have something rubbing under high suspension load (have you checked clearance between the driver rear wheel and muffler after dropping the system for the clutch?? They can sit pretty close to each other, especially considering the rear suspension camber increases with increasing suspension travel), or if the noise only happens when turning one direction, it could very well be a wheel bearing. You'd better pray it isn't a rear wheel bearing.

[epj3]

Does the noise only occur when you are turning one direction (ie, only when turning right)? Was this happening before the clutch job, or did it start after the clutch job?

I really don't see how the noise could be the driveshaft. The driveshaft doesn't change position in these cars with suspension movement - since these cars have IRS, the differential is not floating - it is fixed to the car, so the driveshaft does not move when the suspension moves, no matter how hard you corner. The driveshaft should be nowhere near the exhaust in ANY car, unless someone did a really shitty, half-assed job making up an exhaust system for a car.

The vibration is probably drive-shaft/CSB related, but I'd be willing to bet the noise isn't. Sounds like you either have something rubbing under high suspension load (have you checked clearance between the driver rear wheel and muffler after dropping the system for the clutch?? They can sit pretty close to each other, especially considering the rear suspension camber increases with increasing suspension travel), or if the noise only happens when turning one direction, it could very well be a wheel bearing. You'd better pray it isn't a rear wheel bearing.

It's only when turning right, but only when accelerating or making a hard turn. I'm going to check the exhaust, there is a possibility the exhaust could be in the way.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it could be the fan shroud?!?! Jon -- remember how I said the fan was hitting the plastic shield (around the fan itself) was being hit by the fan? It almost sounds like that... In fact the fan was hitting that when I started the car today. I can't tell if i could feel it or not, but I dont remember feeling it in the shifter.

[epj3]

Posted on unofficialbmw.org

"Changing wheel bearings in a shop equipped with all the usual shop equipment, but no special tools for bearing removal is quite a difficult job.
To do it at home, with nothing but hand tools would be virtually impossible.

I'd recommend having a professional do the wheel bearings on this car. "

:-(

[andreyiv]

Yup, the wheel bearing is on there super tight, but there is a trick to putting it on at home, and I would think that is the main problem since you can hit the damn thing with a sledge hammer until it is completely destroyed or just came off from the hitting. The trick to putting it on is to put the new wheel bearing in the oven and heat it up pretty good, while freezing the piece it goes on. With the temp differance the wheel bearing should expand and the other piece should contract enough to be able to put it on at home.

Of course this is not something I tried, but my dad did do it I believe. It wasn't on a bimmer but something like a 63 (or 53, something like that) FIAT (aka, Lada).

Eric, I would reccomend either getting the special tools or getting it done by a shop, but thats just me.

Also, it does make sense, when you accelerate, the weight goes to the rear of the car, making the noise or when you corner hard enough, the same thing happens. I had something similar to this in my car, turned out to be a bad tire.

One last thing, if it is the bearing, it would make sense to change both of them, right?

[epj3]

Yup, the wheel bearing is on there super tight, but there is a trick to putting it on at home, and I would think that is the main problem since you can hit the damn thing with a sledge hammer until it is completely destroyed or just came off from the hitting. The trick to putting it on is to put the new wheel bearing in the oven and heat it up pretty good, while freezing the piece it goes on. With the temp differance the wheel bearing should expand and the other piece should contract enough to be able to put it on at home.

Of course this is not something I tried, but my dad did do it I believe. It wasn't on a bimmer but something like a 63 (or 53, something like that) FIAT (aka, Lada).

Eric, I would reccomend either getting the special tools or getting it done by a shop, but thats just me.

Also, it does make sense, when you accelerate, the weight goes to the rear of the car, making the noise or when you corner hard enough, the same thing happens. I had something similar to this in my car, turned out to be a bad tire.

One last thing, if it is the bearing, it would make sense to change both of them, right?

Re-read my posts. It never happens unless I'm accelerating through a right hand hard curve. Again, that's the ONLY time it happens.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but arent fiat's FWD? Changing a rear wheel bearing on a RWD car is completely different than changing the front wheel bearings on the same car. Vice versa for a FWD car. The 2 times I've heard wheel bearings go bad, was on our 95 blazer and 99 pontiac montana. Both sounded completely different than what I'm hearing.

[andreyiv]

Eric, do you really think that FIATs were FWD in 1953 or 1963?

When did I say that it does not happen then?

[andreyiv]

Sorry for the double post but you know what. I am trying to help you out here and all you do is try your hardest to prove me wrong, every damn time I give you an idea you say it is completely wrong, you and what you own is superior to everybody/everything (except your tires) and try to show that I have no clue what I am talking about. I am sick of this, no more ideas from me, you seem to be a lot smarter (still don't know why you are asking for help though), so screw you.

Jon, if you got any questions about your e36, still be free to ask, you have my screen name, at least you listen and then realise I am right or correct me when I am not.

Everybody else, have fun guys.

[epj3]

Sorry for the double post but you know what. I am trying to help you out here and all you do is try your hardest to prove me wrong, every damn time I give you an idea you say it is completely wrong, you and what you own is superior to everybody/everything (except your tires) and try to show that I have no clue what I am talking about. I am sick of this, no more ideas from me, you seem to be a lot smarter (still don't know why you are asking for help though), so screw you.

Jon, if you got any questions about your e36, still be free to ask, you have my screen name, at least you listen and then realise I am right or correct me when I am not.

Everybody else, have fun guys.

Uhhhh... lighten up buddy [Cheers] I don't think I said anything to prove you wrong. In fact I said "Correct me if I'm wrong" for that exact reason - so you could, as it states, "Correct me" if I made an invalid statement.

[jon_e36]

First I will say that I replaced the drivers front wheel bearing before eric received the car, and this new sound is NOTHING like when that went bad, nor is there any of the vibration like a wheel bearing. Its definitely something just coming in contact with the body or other part from movement and creating a sound.
Second, dude everybody just lighten up a little. We're just here to relax and all learn a little bit, and don't need it to go downhill. Mmmkay?...Thanks, that'd be great. :-D

[jrt67ss350]

Did you get it figured out, Eric?

[epj3]

Did you get it figured out, Eric?
I'm pretty sure (80% sure...) it's the fan shroud hitting the fan.

[epj3]

Did you get it figured out, Eric?
BTW i'm not concerned about the noise anymore [rofl]

[jrt67ss350]

BTW i'm not concerned about the noise anymore [rofl] [rofl] [rofl] [rofl]

[ravennexus]

i must ask did you ever find out what this was, i've just bought an E30 over here in the UK and i'm getting the same thing, sounds like it's coming from the rear right suspension area.

again only appears on sharp right turns at speed.