Hiya to the knowledgable of the newsgroup
I have a escort mk5 (93). My problem is that the car has developed a "noise". This noise is related to the wheel speed, and NOT the engine speed. The sound can be best described as a rotational whir, occuring at the same point on the its circumfrence. As the wheel speed increases, so does the noise. It gets to the point where it becomes unbearable at 70 miles an hour, and I can feel vibration in the floorboard of the car. This does not affect the steering driving in a straight line, however, if at speed you accelarate / decellarate, the steering pulls to one side for increased speed, and to the other for decreased speed. The vehicle has just undergone its MOT (yearly inspection). It had a wish bone replaced on one side, but not the other. if i drive at 60 mph, adn then disengage the gears, or drive with the clutch depressed, the sound remains. i have had two new tyres ( balanced and tracked) put on. i have tried changing the tyres (rotating) to no avail. I have checked under the car for obvious signs of rubbing (friction), and there was no sign at all. i took the car back to the garage for their advice and they were stumped and wanted to " try" replacing parts left right and centre (hit and miss approach)..... I have my own feelings on the problem but I am NO mechanic and would appreciate advice.. I think the drive shaft on the drivers side may be worn / bent, and is causing rotational vibration.. Can this happen . The garage said that all wheel bearings were fine and did not need replacing. the fact that the steering is affected by increasing and decreasing the acceleration tells me it is related to the drive shaft. Could low power steering fluid be the problem????
i am stumped!!! The car is a beauty to drive besides this noise, and I am scared to take it to the garagesas they seem to want to replace all and sundry parts.... I do not have a lot of money and would like to pay for the job to be done by a garage, with the knowledge that xxx could be the problem..
Thanking you Tony