Rear end sound - any guesses?
 

My '84 Carrera has a new sound this spring(it may have been there last year but I don't remember it this pronounced) You can hear it, but it is not real loud. I would appreciate any insights. With the windows up it is a low moaning sound(only me in the car), seems like from the right rear. If you go straight on smooth pavement at, say, 50 mph, it is there. If you turn sharply to the right, it is gone. If you turn sharply left it is louder. Original 915 gearbox, engine never opened, original axles, cv's and rear bearings. At 93,000 mile right now. Never hit or damaged. Never raced. Any guesses? Glenn

My guess would be right rear wheel bearing,. The reason, it goes away when you turn hard right, is that you are unloading the right wheel. You can jack up the rear of the car, and manually turn the tires, while holding onto the control arm with your hand, and you can usually feel a bad wheel bearing. Just compare it to the other side.
Hope that helps
Fred

wheel bearing or very oddly worn tires.

Thanks guys Are the bearings a bear to change out?

Never raced???, with the Glenn so close?. Yeah, they are a bit tough to change, I have a tool called the hub shark , it is for removing bearings from front wheel drive vehicles, without knuckle removal, This works real good for the rear of porsche bmw etc... Without something like this, you would have to remove the trailing arm, and have access to a press, and some pullers etc.. I just did one in an early car last week, and it came out pretty easy, but I think I remember that the ones in alluminum arms required a little more force to press the bearing out. Best of luck !!!
Fred

Thanks Fred! Well, maybe the car and I have been to a Driver Ed a time or two, but nothing too intense. Hub Shark, eh? This is sounding daunting. Pelican sells a tool for this particular job, at a little over $200. Maybe worth it to avoid the removal of the trailing arms and all that labor. Hmmm Glenn

Do a search on rear bearing removal. Requires about $20 of parts from your local hardware store.

beans?

Early Sport, I found a great! post on rear bearing removal written and documented by North Coast Cab. Thanks for the tip. Looks do-able! Glenn

Check for broken or loose sway bar mounts-very common.

Well, it turns out the right rear wheel bearing was dry and beginning to go bad. Also the CV joints grease was likewise dry, like clay. All original, and only 24 years of service! I chose to have Corning Imported Auto in Corning NY do the work and after what I watched I am glad I deferred that job to Ron and Ed. Tools and skill really make the job more do-able(I don't have all those tools or skill!) Labor cost for the bearing replacement(2) and servicing the CV's with new boots and Swepco grease was $406.(with NY tax) for 6 hours of labor. I brought some coffee and cheese danish and Pelican furnished the parts($200.) Glenn