Noise from right rear

[mikehinton]

I've done a brief search of the archives, and was hoping someone can give me some guidance. I've had a sort of groan coming from the right rear of my '87 Carrera for some time. The noise only occurred when the car was being turned right. I was on my way home from a long road trip when I noticed that the noise had gotten much louder (after some 90+ mph curves on the interstate in CO), and now I'm getting vibration too. Is this just a bearing problem, or does it sound like a CV joint problem. If it's a CV, I understand that replacing the axle is the preferred solution. How difficult is it.

Thanks for the feedback.

[DanielDudley]

Sounds like a bearing, if it is a whirr or grumble noise that gets more intense as speed or cornering forces build. It should become somewhat quieter as you turn the other direction.

CV joints click or clack, and get noisier with strong engine torque.

If it is your bearing, you need to get it sorted soon, as it would be quite advanced to be doing what you describe.

[DanielDudley]

Oh yeah. A split boot on the drive shaft is a dead giveaway for a bad CV joint.

[mikehinton]

Sounds like it's probably the bearing. I won't need to drive the car until it's fixed. I assume I can order the necessary parts from out host. Does anyone have a "shopping list?"

Thanks for the quick reply.

[yelcab1]

You can get the parts from our hosts. But be prepared, the rear wheel bearing on the Porsche (and BMW and a few others) is a job that requires very special bearing tools. Without them, you will screw it up, or curse yourself, or shoot the car. So, buy the tools, rent the tools, or let the mechanic worry about it. This is one job where cheaping out does not pay.

[rusnak]

Mike, if you were closer, I'd help you change the bearing. On my '84 i was super easy with the right tools. Once I had the bearing puller, the bearing was out and back in in less that 10 minutes.

Your '87 has different axle/ cv joints, so you might have some other issue there.

There are a few threads on changing the rear bearing, with shopping lists and pictures of home-made tools. Buy an extra bearing because you may ruin the first one.

[mikehinton]

I'll check out those other threads before I decide to tackle it. If I decide to proceed, would you all advise changing both sides at the same time, or leave well enough alone? The car does do autocrosses about once a month, if that makes a difference.

[rusnak]

push laterally (side to side) on the rear bumper with your shin, while looking at the rear wheel rim. If the bearings are bad, you'll see the wheel move relative to the body. I'd only replace the bad one, keeping in mind that the rear wheel nut has to be massively torqued down to something like 250-ish lbs per ft.

[mikehinton]

I'll check it tonight. Based on the noises it was making, I'm pretty sure it's the bearing.