Stan944

I hear an intermittent whining noise from the rear left wheel while driving. It is not correlated with braking. I think it is the wheel bearing, but am not sure. Could it be one of the CV joints, the left axle bearing in the transmission, etc.?
I checked the axles for play, and there is some. It seems to be same, rather small amount of (twisting or up-down) play in both axles.
Thanks, Stan

RMills944

If a CV goes out, it will sometimes taek the bearing with it. You probably need a new axle assembly - it's not hard at all to change, but check teh bearings while you're there.

SoCal Driver

Your outer bearing is shot. The stub axle is riding on it's broken inner race.

You will have to replace the stub axle as well as both inner and outer bearings, seals and o-ring.

Stan944

Thanks, I'm not sure if I understand correctly the terms you mention:

the inner and outer bearings - do you mean the wheel bearings? not parts of the CV joints?
seal and o-ring - these are probably at the wheel bearing...
stub axle - is it the part of the axle (outside of the outer CV joint) that goes inside the wheel bearings? I can get a complete rebuilt axle for the price comparable to the axle rebuild kits.

The way I understand your answer, I should do both the axle and the wheel bearings?

Judging by the equal amount of lateral/twisting play in the left and right side CV joints, it probably would be wise to do the right side too.

Thanks, Stan

P.s.
I keep dreaming of the engine swap (968 NA that is), and I hear the tranny needs to be replaced too. Will the axles from 1983 fit the 968 tranny or similar? But right now, this swap is only a dream for me...

SoCal Driver

You have to take the CV's apart to check them. If the car has over 90,000 on the CV's you will want to replace them anyway.

A noise consistent with the revolving of the wheels is a bearing or brake problem not a CV problem. Bad CV's clunk they do not whine or squeal.

Rear bearings and CV joints are a 30,000 mile inspect and relube item.

I just went through the rear bearings and stub axle of a friends early 944 that had the same symptoms. I found that the outer roller bearing was rusted from a worn seal or o-ring. This had caused the bearing to seize and the inner race spun on the axle. Eventually it cracked into pieces. It was the dry inner race riding on the stub axle that gave out the noise.

Stan944

Thanks SoCal, that was very helpful.
My car is currently 140 000 miles, and I doubt the CVs were ever serviced... It was definitely neglected by the PO, and I'm gradually bringing it to shape.

SoCal Driver

Fix the bearing ASAP. You can get away with keeping the exiting stub axle if the scoring on it is not too bad. Other wise replace it with a new one.

SoCal Driver

P.S. If you find that the large nuts are loose on the rear axles you may have to replace the hubs as well as the stub axles.

Stan944

Thanks, it's time to order the bearings and examine the rest.