Transaxle Bearings

Transaxle Bearings

Transaxle Bearings
Grinding noise when driving, maybe inside transaxle?

Just replaced my automatic transmission, worked great, shifts beautifully. However, there is a nasty grinding noise on the front passanger side. It is a FWD transaxle, and I put it up on jackstands and listened for the noise. I don't think it is the outer Wheel Bearing. It sounds more like it is coming from where the axle goes into the transmission. It is a constant grind, VERY loud, can be heard from the inside and outside even at only 10mph. Happens in forward and reverse, and isnt a repeating noise, its a constant rubbing like something is dragging. Is there a bearing inside where the axle goes into the transaxle thats easily replaceable that fits these symptoms? I've heard bad wheel bearings before and they make a "wa wa wa wa" sound. This is just a constant grind. Is there anything else it could be? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

Put the car up and check your CV joint. Any grinding or rubbing noise and no indication of a bad wheel bearing very well could be a CV joint on it's way out where it's a frontwheel drive car. They tend to be pretty loud complainers when they are on the way out.

Do you have any cracks in the CV joint boot? Is it split? Do you see grease coming out of it or has come out? If it isn't the joint it's possible to be the joint on the transaxle itself as well. But if it sounds closer to the wheel and it's not a wheel bearing the next closest thing is going to be CV joint.

A good way to test it also is to put the car in reverse, crank the wheel and go in a circle. Then go in reverse the other way (to test both sides). If the noise gets WORSE and you hear it grind it's very likely the CV joint as the culprit.

Another way to absolutely rule out a wheel bearing is to jack the car up so the tire is up in the air. There should be no play in the wheel (as in you shouldn't be able to rock it back and forth). If there isn't, you can't rule it out when it's up on stands then start looking at the transaxle and the CV joint.