F6 woes

[Andy McGhee]

Hi All
I could do with some help on this one, please.
My F6 (205,000 miles), has developed an intermittent front-end noise. It only happens after I've done 5-10 miles and things have warmed up a bit, only on the move and only at 20-30 mph. Like all noises, it's not easy to describe, but it's a sort of da-da-da-da rhythmic rubbery creak/rubbing sound coming from somewhere in the front end of the van. It's definitely connected with rotation, though. When it starts it's still there when I coast in neutral; braking seems to quieten things a little, but it comes back immediately.
I thought it was coming from the n/s hub at first, and as there was a little play in it I changed the bearings, both balljoints and the track rod end. I also replaced the tie-rod end 'eye' bushes on both sides and checked the tightness of the anti-roll bar nuts. No change!
Look forward to your thoughts!
Thanks in advance
Andy

 

[Eoynteenie]

my golf did this, we found out it was the engine mounts, worth a check?

 

[mr-reno-139]

I will put money on it being a dry cv joint if you have had a gator replaced recently and not enough greece in the joint makes a very strange noise it is the metal on metal rubbing
worth checking the side noise it is coming buy removing the clip on the outer cv joint and peeling back gator should be grease dripping from the joint if not get some cv joint grease repack and refit cv boot with a cable tie if necessary it may take a mile or so for the grease to work its way into the joint and the noise to stop

 

[Andy McGhee]

Thanks for the replies - very helpful.
There was too much play in the o/s bearings as well - when I undid the driveshaft nut, the hub pulled out too easily, leaving the outer bearing in the hub carrier. There was also a pinhole in the outer driveshaft bellows - there seemed to be plenty of grease inside, but I changed the whole hub unit and fitted a brand-new driveshaft, along with a new gearbox mounting (I don't think this was the problem; the gearbox mounting broke a few years ago, and this caused a lot of vibration/juddering, particularly when braking). Anyway, all quiet after 80 miles or so!