Driving along very randomly get this noise like a stone rolling around inside a drum which then goes into a noise like running a stick along bike spokes followed by a few metal twangs? It sounds like it is coming from round the rear of the car maybe the drivers wheel? Any ideas??

THANKS

 

record it n put it up on youtube if you can.

does the sound seem like its in time with wheel speed?
does it seem louder/quiter on acceleration/deceleration or pulling away from a standstill?

 

£10 says it's a wheel bearing...

 

The banging isn't but the bike spoke noise is in time with wheel speed. It did it this morning but once hit the main road and travelling at normal speed vanished but before that was squealing / whistling. I have noticed it sometimes after braking and pulling away particularly if then go into reverse but is random. I noticed it about 4 weeks ago but then never heard it again so had put it down to cold weather or stone stuck in the brake somewhere but today has come back this morning and again tonight.

 

Isn't that more of a knocking noise?

 

Check your universal joints on the drive shafts

 

Presumably I need to lift the car and get underneath to do this?

 

If it still has the original brakes on, it could well be a small stone trapped between the disc and the rear disc protector.

Mine did it once on the front, it mad a really frightening noise.

 

yes. theres 2 rubber boots around the joints, one at the diff end, one at the wheel end. jack the car up and check the rubbers. if they have split at all then you will have lost grease and they can squeal/knock depending on wear. if the rubbers seem fine they are probably ok, so with the handbreak off (Make sure the car is on a level surface and put some blocks under the front wheels so the car dont move) get someone to rotate the wheel a little back and forth while you hold the shaft and joints either side of the rubber with both hands to see if theres play in any of the joints. if they seem fine then check your wheel bearing for play. if that seems fine, get the wheel off n check the disk/caliper for stones as mentioned by others

 

It took the garage about an hour to try and find what the noise was but after tapping the back of the rear protector the little bu**ar appeared. It then took 10 careful minutes to break the stone out, it was massive!

Thanks all, thought this was going to cost me.

 

LOL, the noise IS scary, isn't it?

Glad it's sorted.