Xantia Mk1 Gearbox/Diff noise

[xantom]

Hi. I have only one Xantia left now apart from the spares hulk. My white machine has been making ever increasing groaning related to wheel speed. I confirmed the left drive shaft innner joint at the diff was very worn and suspected that, especially as some knocking was starting to appear too. I have recently replaced the bearing on the left wheel. I replaced the left drive shaft and the groaning altered a bit but is not significantly reduced. If I do a left turn and take load away from the left wheel the groaning disappears. I suspect the bearing at the diff on the left side. Is this a rational conclusion? If the bearings need replaced does anyone know what designation they have. I asked Citroen and they want to charge me over £80 each (I would change both of course) and a bearing manufacturer needed to know the specification of the bearing before he could say whether he could supply it. Anyone just happen to know such arcane info? I don't want to take the diff off yet to find out as I'm still using the car to get around in, even if it sounds a bit like a propeller aircraft in a dive. Thanks

[RichardW]

I would check the wheel bearing on the other side - the only Xantia I have had with a wheel bearing problem ( a MK1 TD coincidentally) had the same symptoms - ie went quite on LH bends, leading me to conclude that it was the LH bearing, which is normal for most cars, but in fact the RH bearing was away!

If it is the diff bearing, then here's the info from service.citroen:

3125 18

02 DIFFERENTIAL BEARING
38 X 63 - 17
- XU AND BVM BE3

I would read this as 38mm id, 63mm od, 17mm thick. A search online suggest a taper roller bearing rather than a ball, no idea what is actually fitted! Seems an odd size too - which is typical of Citroen. Price should be <£90 the pair from Citroen, a lot cheaper aftermarket if you can find the right one!

Part Number Description Quantity Price excl. VAT Price incl. VAT Total incl. VAT
0000312518 DIFFER BEARING 36.13 GBP 43.36 GBP

[Peter.N.]

I too would suggest the wheel bearing, they don't all comply with the normal diagnosis.

Peter

[Northern_Mike]

That's a wheel bearing. The diff gave up on RUNN - a 1.9TD. You'd really know if it was the diff, believe me.

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[xantom]

Thanks guys. Definitely going to check the offside wheel bearing before I do anything more drastic. Just need a little time to myself to fit it in.

[xantom]

Changed the right hand bearing today. All hell to get the big circlip out of the hub, but that wasn't really a surprise. The problem is cured and I love my car again. Still, I would have put money on the noise originating from the centre or the left hand bearing. Completely baffles me how the right hand bearing causes noises elsewhere. Thanks guys for the good steer.

[Peter.N.]

You can never tell with cars. Well done anyway.