Help with mystery noise please

[Edmason]

Strange noise from the back of the Stag today that I can’t figure out. It sounds like I’ve got a small chicken or a bird chirruping away somewhere at the back, (this is with the hood down). Its most noticeable at slow speeds, and only when the transmission is under load: as soon as you ease off the throttle it goes. Nothing obviously amiss from a roadside inspection. Exhaust seems solid. Bouncing rear of car doesn’t make a noise. Rear suspension bushes and driveshaft joints done within last 10K. Any thoughts please on what to check?

[flying farmer]

Driveshaft UJ disintegrating.

First symptom is often a chirruping noise, with a slight shuddering under acceleration developing as things get worse.

You won't find any play in the UJ in the initial stages as the swarf from the disintegrating needle rollers takes up the play until all the bits get spat out.

Unless the premium UJs were fitted 10,000 miles means nothing. I have destroyed cheap UJs in less than 5000 miles on a too regular basis, good quality ones will last tens of thousands of miles even with the amount of abuse I give them.

Neil

[Edmason]

Thanks. I'd wondered about the propshaft UJs but not the driveshafts.
Presumably I'd need to change all 4, and check & re-grease the sliding joint at the same time?
As for "Premium UJs", Rimmers offer basic, OE, and "Staked type (requires special tool)" as well as a driveshaft re-build kit with "Aftermarket" UJs, and, just to further confuse things, an entire replacement driveshaft & hub with CV joint. Too many choices!
Advice welcome!

[trunt]

If you can afford it the CV driveshafts are fit and forget, they aint cheap but in the end...

They also include the hubs so you are killing 2 birds with one stone, those hubs are getting old and failures have been reported.

[Stagintow]

One of the many things that gets overlooked is the circlips that come with the new UJ`s are a bit thinner than the old one`s about 10 thou so they can move side to side not good! That`s why so many do not last.
So you must put the old ones back in.

I have just found a old/new circlip that was to thin to use it is 58 thou thick so the ones you need to put back in must be more than that I do not have one to check but guess 10thou more.