XSeries-forum

so have you got to the bottom of it yet?

Smee

Hi,

Still a mystery im afraid.

Been looking at transfer cases, diffs etc to get an understanding of potential causes - I am hoping its an UJ/axle.

I have been underneath and prodded and pulled, cant see anything obvious.

Had a mate listen and he seems to think its coming from the rear, past the front passenger doors at minimum.

I suppose I will have to get it on a lift and get a real mech to look at it grumble grumble - what I have realised from all the reading is that these machines can be money pits, say compared to a Jap equivalent (RX etc) and can have catastrophic consequences on your wallet, even if your handy with a wrench and have all the tools, done the maintenance. However they are an amazing machine

Keep the suggestions coming, someone might recognise the noise and say "I had that, it was the UJ" lol

I've just had a chance to listen to it
i'm throwing 2 things in that i'm thinking of .....
1 cv joint .... on mine when the front was going it sounded very similar to that noise but it only happened when the joint had warmed up
second thought is a bit of a wild shot ..... handbrake shoes    the pin that holds the shoes to the backing plate pulled through on mine and the shoes moved just enough to cause a noise that wasn't a million miles away from the noise you've got ..... mine only happened at low speed and a quick flick of the handbrake would quieten it down

hope these help


btw when my cv joint finally let go i thought the gearbox had thrown its toys outta the pram ....... if i hadn't noticed the ball-bearings rolling down the road i'd have torched the car where it stood

Good grief. The handbrake thing happened to mine. Now you mention it the sound is really similar. Mine also clattered as I went over bumps.
If it is that I have a simple and cheap repair solution.

I've just had another listen with my Bose on and I don't think it is the rear brakes. Poss centre prop bearing. Common fault on Cayenne and Toureg but not so much on an X5.

Hi both,

Thanks for taking the time to have another think, lol @ torch the thing, got me cracking up, that...

Good idea on the handbrake thing (shot in the dark but worth eliminating) as my handbrake hardly works, going to try that. Centre bearing also sounds feasible so thanks for the pointers guys.

I can almost lightly accelerate without it making a sound, but soon as I give it anything more then 1% throttle the noise happens.

All you guys have been great so big thanks whatever the outcome, just makes you want to keep the X to be part of the community here

[quote="themoog"]
Good grief. The handbrake thing happened to mine. Now you mention it the sound is really similar. Mine also clattered as I went over bumps.
If it is that I have a simple and cheap repair solution.
[/quote]

I'm just wondering if your cheap repair is the same as mine ...... i got a brake spring washer from work and pushed the pin through that and the backing plate

Have not forgotten to update the thread, still not had a chance to get it down garage on lift. Have been doing my own troubleshooting as best I can.

Does anyone know how to disconnect the transfer box and put it into 2wd mode (rear), is it just a case of pulling the plug from the transfer box or is there a fuse that can be pulled to force 2wd mode.

Will the warning lights go off when I reconnect?

Anyone know? Will help me troubleshoot and help eliminate 50% of the poss cause as I think its the transfer box (its the Xdrive I have on an 04).

Thanks Horizon your a gem.

"Until you get it sorted, Remove fuse no 46 (transfer box/xdrive). Its better to drive with systems off than driving with systems on but no shaft." - credit to kkx5

Found this also - "On an X Drive e53 you can pull fuse #46 and it will disengage the front drive making it a rwd only. But you loose traction, 4x4 obviously and abs too so be aware"

Removed the fuse and took it for a drive - no difference.

The drive will still be connected so it will make a noise.  The transfer box is driven directly off the gearbox so pulling the fuse doesn't remove the connection, just stops it being an active power splitter unit.  If the problem is in the diff then they are still running anyway. 

To stop the transfer box you will have to physically remove it and the two prop shafts and you will just go nowhere.  The rear shaft won't reach anymore!

@X5sport - thanks for that, very helpful - back to plan B and get it on a lift.

Hi,

I know its been a while, this has been on the back burner - got it on a lift today and the centre bearing is completely shot, hopefully, that is the reason for all the knocking.

Just thought I would update the thread to help others, instead of leeching and running lol. I will update if it turns out not to be just the centre bearing.

Once again cheers for all the pointers peeps!

themoog, who get the credit here, you or the Bose?