Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint

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Sat 16 Apr 2011 20:04
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - Rosanbo

My MOT test is due and a menacing noise has appeared, just 2 days ago,
Under acceleration no noise
Under braking no noise
When freewheeling - in gear or not in gear, engine on or engine off, I get a grinding noise from up front like a bearing noise

At very slow speed less than 1 mph I can sometiimes make the car go clunk, clunk, clunk as I move very slowly with the wheel turned.

I thought it would be a CV joint, but I've been under the car & I find no play in any of the 4 CV joints, I'm no expert but there's no noticeable play.

The only noise I get when under the car (front on axle stands) is a small clunk sound from the gear box when I rock either front wheel back and forth. but I would have thought that was normal.

Surely it has to be CV joints, but how to check this please?

Will this pass the MOT like it is? As I’d like to get that out of the way and then fix this problem without the hassle of the MOT needing doing.

Any ideas what the problem might be?

Previously the gear linkage on this car got stiff for 1st & 2nd (for months), but I realigned it 2 weeks ago - coincidence?

Also during the snow and ice when wheel spinning there was a few occasions when I had a clunk from the driveshaft/gear box due to the wheel spinning.

Thanks

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Sat 16 Apr 2011 21:46
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - bathtub tom

Find a large, empty car-park, put it on full left lock and accelerate hard in first gear, then repeat in reverse.

Put it on full right lock and do it again.

Does it go clunk, clunk, clunk?

If so, it's a CV.

s*******.

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Sat 16 Apr 2011 22:18
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - bathtub tom

>>If so, it's a CV. s*******.

Seems like HJ doesn't like meerkats pronunciation of simple?

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Sat 16 Apr 2011 21:48
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - Peter.N.

Sounds like a CV joint to me, normally the clunking, although it usually sounds more like clicking, will get worse when you are on lock and quieten in the straight ahead position.

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Sun 17 Apr 2011 09:16
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - Rosanbo

Thanks both,

I did try the carpark thing with no noises. Maybe it's a CV joint on it's way out and doesn't do it all the time.

I will also put it back up in the air and turn the wheels full lock and then spin them (which I forgot to do last time.)

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Mon 12 Mar 2012 22:11
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - blindspot

having same problem with my 99 plate corsa b auto. drivshafts seem to be ok not clunking. wheel bearings seem ok ball joints seem ok. gearbox works well, no vibration in steering wheel , tyres are good. noise of bearings kicks in at about 26 mph worse on rough roads. is there a bearing in the differential?

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Mon 12 Mar 2012 23:24
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - Peter.N.

If its not doing it at car park speeds it still could be a wheel bearing. Try the same test, cornering both ways at a higher speed, if its a bearing it should be louder in one direction than the other, normally if its loud cornering right it will be the left hand bearing and vice versa.

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Tue 13 Mar 2012 11:58
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - blindspot

have tried lock to lock turns, this noise is a drone. no clicking, no hissing, no cluncking, no vibration through the car or steering wheel. have just checked the ATF and it was on just under min. so have it topped up now ,see if that makes any difference, fingers crossed

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Tue 13 Mar 2012 12:01
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - blindspot

noise is still present when i knock it in to nuetral, and when i turn the engine off, untill speed falls below 25mph.

with engine running in nuetral all seems fine

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Tue 13 Mar 2012 13:20
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - ChannelZ

What tyres have you got fitted? Some cheap chinese tyres can give some wierd noises that sound like drivetrain issues.

A colleague had all 4 wheel bearings, CV joints, shafts, and a load of suspension work done to a Focus he bought privately. Turned out the Sunny tyres the previous owner had fitted before selling the car were the problem. Fitted 4x Kumhos and the noise instantly went away.

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Wed 14 Mar 2012 20:46
Vauxhall Corsa C - Noise like wheel bearing / CV joint - blindspot

blimey . seems like it was the ATF, strange that the box was opperating perfectly as usual. what a relief nice to be able to drive with the windows open again. shame it was the last thing i got round to thinking off.

when my tyre went out off balance the noise was more wub wub wub.

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