Another half shaft?

Hi all,
For the last couple of days I've been getting a faint grinding, clattery, rattling noise accompanied by the occasional screech. Sounds like it's coming from the front left and is consistant with road speed. It doesn't happen all the time but was that bad just now that I had to pull over and make sure one of the front wheels wasn't gonna fall off. It started after I'd been driving for 15 mins and was getting louder and louder. I pulled onto a pub car park and had a poke and prod around underneath. Couldnt see anything obvious.
It was still doing it while rolling slowly accros the car park in neutral with the engine off.
Decided to go home and use my better half's car instead. On the way home it was getting worse and worse until it suddenly jerked to the left, nearly pulled the wheel out of my hands. Again, I stopped to have a quick look, couldnt see bugger all, so slowly made our way home.
Oddly it didn't reoccour for the entire journey home and drove fine.
Think maybe something had run out of true and the offending component has chewed itself free from binding.
I dont trust the bloody thing though and have no idea where to start looking, apart from front brakes, any suggestions greatly recieved guys!!!!

cv joint maybe?

Have you got any lubrication left in your swivels?

It sounds as though the CV might have been running dry ... and they don't like to do that!!

be carefull it could without warning lock the wheel or even the steering, i had one go that did both, luckily on a lane at very slow speed

Will check tomorrow, thanks!!!

Reet, just checked the lube level in th swivel pin housings. The LHS one was boon dry, took about 500ml of oil to fill to the correct level.
While I was in the mood, I thought I'd get the middle seat up, take the pannel out and have a butchers at me diff lock selector levers, (bit dubious over wether or not diff lock is engaging cuz I get no indication on the dash and selecetion doesn't feel positive).
While poking around, I found a banjo bolt loose on top of the transfer box. Is thi an important bit? Oil level is good in the box, so it aint been p1ssing everywhere. Cleaned up and tightened down anyway.
Just about to run roun th block a few times to see if any cv related horrors occour! :-/
At least I'll be on me door step if the job stops.
Should I get the garage to change the cv's, or diy? Looked at the haynes book and it looks like it could be a hammer throwing tantrum job!

The banjo is the breather - mine was loose too, weeped a bit of oil but no other issues.

If you can get the diff-lock indicator/switch out, by pressing the button on the end the dash indicator light illuminates (with the ignition on) - if you have a volt meter pressing the button creates a short. If no light and no short the switch needs changing.

My mate had his CV's done recently on his D90 - he bought the bits on ebaY and the garage fitted/sorted it all for around £80. So with a ramp and the correct tools it's a 2 hour job..

Good luck - post some pics

Hi, th haynes pics are total ****e and difficult orientate yerself using them.
Can you tell me where the switch is and how do you remove it?
Cheers.

Best way (IMO) is to remove the gearbox tunnel. It's reasonably easy, remove all the carpets/mats etc and you'll see 10 or 12 X-head screws around the edge, remove them, take off the handbrake lever (stick you arm in under the drivers seat with a 13mm spanner), remove the plastic cover on the fuses and it'll wriggle off.

You will be able to clearly see the Hi-Low and diff-Lock linkages and the switch which sits behind the lever. I think it's a 15mm spanner to get the switch out - it's easy with the tunnel off and not impossible from underneath with it still on, but its much more difficult.

I'd highly recommend taking the tunnel off - it only takes 30 mins or so and you can clean everything up get at the gear levers and grease them. Replacement #14 stainless self tappers are available for the rebuild (from Spaldings 01522 753444 - i'm just a happy customer).

Here's a pic from when I did mine .. my transfer box is from a Puma, you can see the switch just behind the selector lever (with a bit of green wire) - yours will be in the same place I believe (?) - the red plastic squares are what the screws screw into to hold the tunnel down.

Driving around without the tunnel on is fun too - you get to hear all of the noises that the gearboxes make.

Hahahaha, just gonn hav a go at that now...
Will be a fooker if me phone or wallet drops down the hole though!
Oopsies!!!

Have a look in me guides for doing yer cv's, it's not asbad to do as ye think