drone getting worse

M

mabo

Club Member
Nov 13, 2011
5,365
5,007
south wales
My cougar has always had a drone. over the years I've replaced all of the wheel bearing, some more than once.
Drone now worse than ever, I can feel it through the floor. Suspecting a drive shaft problem is there a bearing on the driverside drive shaft that could be shot and causing it?

I could do with using the car for another 3 weeks but not sure something serious is going to happen before then. I'll have a peep underneath at the weekend.:eek:
 
Last edited:
yes Pid, done fronts first when I got the car several years ago. then the rears. And she droned on. Not much mileage added as she is a second or third car and I'm the only driver.
Rear nearside found to have play. Replace again. MOT recently, same one too much play. Changed it on tuesday night.
Previously I've used new budget ones from Ebay. The change on Tuesday was using a used one I had available. Bearing is French, so prob not original ford but not Chinese either. It aint a wheel bearing, or at least not that can be detected with no weight on the wheel.
 
Last edited:
fronts OK. 215s. Rear was on 215s with odd wear on the the same rear passenger side that seems to like wheel bearings Has taken out the inside edge. Replace both rears today, fitted new 225s. They'll be getting moved to the front at the weekend. Not too concerned about possible mis alignment of rear wheel. Replacement subframe refurb is in progress so I'll get her fully aligned after that.
Looks like there is a support bearing on the driverside drive shaft at least there is on some internet pics of st200 drive shafts and mondeo 3 driveshafts. If that bearing is shot it would explain why I can feel it under my feet.
 
Last edited:
Procomm said:
Is your rear caliper binding? Excess heat from friction will cause your bearing to wear out prematurely
Click to expand...

Good try Procomm but no. it's passed probably half a dozen MOTs with this and has always flown the break test, A dragging brake will show on the machine, I've seen it on previous cars. Apart from that I've checked the wheels by touching the hub after long droning drives just again this morning, but they have all been nice and cool, verifying brakes and bearings OK. You've pulled a few of V6 engines, can you confirm my suspicion of a bearing in the middle of the drivers side drive shaft ? That shaft is almost certainly getting ripped out tomorrow morning. Do I need to drain the gbox oil before pulling the shaft? Did I mention your back bumper moulding is now in place after my winter tittivation. Looks like she'll be off the road sooner than planned.
 
Procomm said:
Yes you need to drain the gearbox oil first, if the bush fails on the intermediate shaft your car just wont move at all but it is a bush rather than a bearing
Click to expand...

OK thanks Procomm, further investigation in the morning. I reckon either its a drive shaft or the gearbox is shot. Some of the v6s seem to have a bearing such as this from ebay Mk 2 ST200 mondy or is this the bush you refer to?


Mouse over image to zoom​

  • s-l64.jpg
  • s-l64.jpg
  • s-l64.jpg




 
I spent the morning clearing the garage to put Heti back into her winter nest. I swapped the new tyres from back to front and then backed backed her in.
Jacked her up until I can fit my oversize ramps under the wheels. Pulled and tugged at the bush /bearing mentioned above. No noticeable movement. Pulled and tugged at the gearbox end of the drive shaft no noticeable movement.
OK time for the wheel to come off. Jack her up, to take the weight off the wheel, slide two axle stands and a block of wood under the box section that is under the driver seat. Remove wheel. Slide ramp rearward and place it under the sill, fill gap between ramp and sill with timber blocks in case the axle stand fail. Place the removed wheel under the chassis box section under the passenger seat, pack the gap with timber blocks in case the two axle stands and two ramps fail. Pull the caliper off the disc to let me spin the shaft more freely. No noise from the bush but the differential is quite noisy, more than I would expect. I noticed what I guess is the reversing lights switch moving as I spin the shaft in different directions. Notice a minor oil leak coming from the area of this switch. Drain gearbox oil, It's far thinner than I expected and ejaculated beyond the container. Quickly move container to catch spillage. Leave to drain, watch rugby and drink beer. Tomorrow I plan to pour the oil into an old engine oil container straining it through some fine cloth. My idea being if there is any swarf I'll catch it, this will probably condemn the gearbox if I find any. Can I pull the gearbox without pulling the engine ? Can I fit a 6 speed if I have to change the box? Any one got an ST200 or ST220 engine with Manual box surplus to requirements? Just considering the options.
 
Last edited:
when does the drone occure mate.
is it all the time ,when u turn ,accelerating or decelerating..its rare for the intermediate drive shaft bearing to go but when it does it makes a harsh noise...not really a drone noise..

how good are your engine mounts, particularly the roll restrictors..these can cause odd droning noises when under hard acceleration.
to check your diff turn both wheels (jacked up) in opposite directions they should turn with ease with no notchyness or resistance.
also try putting it into gear and check the amount of movement when u turn both the wheels the same direction ,a worn diff will give you quite a lot of wheel movement b4 it hits the gears..
the diffs do have weak planetary gears..but rarely do the actuall diff bearings fail.
 
Hi SZ, there all the time mate, quicker I go louder it gets. Relates to road speed not engine speed. Direction change makes no difference , dipping the clutch or neutral whilst driving makes no difference.
Spent the night reading STs4 forums. They suggest the diff bearing would be leaking oil if they are shot, no oil leaks, well nothing to lose sleep over.
Speaking of sleep, that's where I'm off to. G'night.
 
I might have to eat some humble pie here.
My filtering the transmission oil rendered nothing, all good no swarf.
I set about removing the drivers side drive shaft.
having split the shaft from the wheel hub I then turned the hub. Yuk feels horrible, lumpy and dry. I'm now trying to source front wheel bearings or hubs at sensible prices. The present one where Ebay, paid around £30 for them, they've done less than 10k, I guess proves you get what you pay for. Can anyone recommend bearings or hub at sensible price but of reasonable quality. Ford list at £200 ouch !
Worst thing is I could rebuild the front wheel bearing and still have the drone !
 
Unlucky that mate i expect wheel bearings last a lot longer must be faulty somehow never seen a wheel bearing fail like that prematurely

The next one bound to last longer(y)
 
After a quick search on eBay, genuine Ford front bearings are between £53 and £60 but it looks like the C clips are not included in the Ford kit. That's all from Ford dealer eBay shops too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.