Intermittent metallic drivetrain noise

[mgbglasgow]

Hi all... I have an XC90 that's exhibiting a mettalic noise from underside of car whilst moving.. like a random tink .. tink. Tink noise if you get me... Also a sort of kick comes through driveline .. you can feel it as you drive.... Any ideas? I've had rear shoes inspected and backed off in case they where catching... I'm in the process of dropping the propshaft down to test if it's from front or back driveline ......

[owenfackrell]

When ours started to make a noise a bit like a bell was when the bearings for the angle gear had failed. Might be worth a look as we also got shudders through the drive train. It happened to us as we drove down through France. Needed up pulling the plug on the handles unit stop the shudders and put up with the noise for the duration of the trip.

[Tannaton]

Check the vacuum engine mounts - if they're old then the engine can drop and the output flange from the angle drive scrapes on the steering rack heat sheild....

[mgbglasgow]

I'm feeling it's the angle gear unit... Will keep up all posted... Thanks so far People

[gmonag]

Could be "axle ping". Check the drive shaft bolts (hub centre).

[mgbglasgow]

Does axle ping happen whilst driving?

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Check the vacuum engine mounts - if they're old then the engine can drop and the output flange from the angle drive scrapes on the steering rack heat sheild....

When I went to view my current 2007 XC90, I was aware of a light metallic rotational scraping sound when moving off on the test drive. It seemed to disappear once up to about 15mph and was from the footwell area.

I liked the car and got it privately at a very good price so decided to buy it even though the noise was present all the way home whenever moving off.

To me it didn't sound like a bearing , more like something revolving a scraping on a piece of light metal.

I didn't need to start using the car straight away so as soon as I got the car home, I changed all filters and gave it a service. Changed all belts, tensioners and idlers, as well as the front engine mount which did not hold vacuum. The rear one looked recent and held vacuum correctly but I did change the mount under the crank pulley.

In addition, I checked the front propshaft flange for any movement indicating a worn bearing and all was good although it was close to the aforementioned heat shield

When I came to start using the car daily, the scraping noise had disappeared never to return.

I am almost certain that whatever it was disappeared as a result of changing engine mounts. Logic would say that the rear one would be the culprit but mine was not touched.


I would definitely check the heat shield that Tannaton has mentioned and also the engine mounts.

[Kwozzymodo]

Take a peek at the rear driveshaft cv joints. They dry out over time, being in close proximity to the exhaust and then you get some play, resulting in a speed-related clunk/tink/insert noise here, from the driveshaft joint. From memory, there are three along the driveshaft and you can buy kits to replace each.

[kwahodi]

Yes - its going to be one of the drive shaft cv joints either front or rear. I have a 2006 2.5T which had the same metallic sound. Thought it was "axle ping" and got the "anti ping" axle bolts. This did not fix the issue. The cv joint is quite close to the exhaust which gets hot and the grease dries up and becomes useless. Mine was pretty bad when I removed it. Replased with a kit from Colorado shafts and all good again. thanks.

[mgbglasgow]

It's the transfer box. What a mare to get off... New one is serviced and ready to go back on... Once I get this thing out... What crap access. Ridiculous.....