Hey guys. I keep getting this grinding sound somewhere in the drivetrain. I can hear it through the shifter if I put my ear near it, although you can also hear it outside the car, coming from underneather it. It gets higher in pitch as speed of the car increases, not rpm. When I go over a bump, it gets louder when the car is closer to the ground, but when the car bounces upward and is farther from the ground, it gets quieter. Any ideas?

 

Possible causes - wheel bearings, springs, something loose on exhaust, driveshaft...

Does it make a grinding sound when shifting?

 

it sounds like a wheel bearing to me, if its a constant grinding, than it might be. dose it sound like metal on metal grinding???

 

I'm thinking wheel bearing if it's a constant noise.

Does it make this sound in every gear, or with the clutch in or out? Cuz I wondering if it might be the pilot or throw out bearing.

 

The sound doesn't seem to be connected to the clutch or tranny at all. If it is in gear or out, or if the clutch is in or out or which gear it is in doesnt matter. Only speed of the car. I was afraid it was the differential, but hopefully it is the wheel bearings. And yeah it sounds like metal on metal grinding.

 

well, you can tell the diff easy. drain the fluid and see how much metal comes out. if your good then i would definately say wheel bearings.

 

Well I jacked up the rear of the car and spun the rear wheel with my hand and the grinding sound is coming from the tranny. Sounds like it is coming from where the driveshaft meets the tranny. PLEASE tell me there is just some bearing that needs replacing and not the whole tranny. It shifts fine and doesnt act weird accept for the noise that varies with the cars speed only. Thanks guys

 

I have a similar noise and I was told it was the rear end. I have another one to swap with and then I will know for sure. First gens have a tendency to go through the wheel bearings. If you lower the car, I have been told that you put more stress on the pinion bearing, unless you put in a Tri-lick, which corrects the geometry.

Good luck

 

i saw a tri-lick once with ron jeremy in it, lol. i'm guessing you mean tri-link. never heard of it though so i'll claim idiosy.

yep looks like a bearing there. make sure when you put in the new one it has a 0 to 0.002" clearance or mr haynes comes after you......................

 

Ok, so there's a bearing where the tranmission meets the driveshaft. Is that right? I hope so. I can't afford to replace the tranny right now.

 

I have a similar noise and I was told it was the rear end. I have another one to swap with and then I will know for sure. First gens have a tendency to go through the wheel bearings. If you lower the car, I have been told that you put more stress on the pinion bearing, unless you put in a Tri-lick, which corrects the geometry.

Good luck

 

Driveshaft could be rubbing a heat shield, or possibly the tranny tailshaft bushing has siezed, or a u-joint may be in need of grease. Disconnect the driveshaft at the third member and turn it independent of the wheels to determine the origin of the noise.