rear end noise on boost!! 5mt legacy wagon

[kunchris]

hey guys i got a bit of noise coming from the rear end...especially on the left wheel. when cruising, it comes more apparent on lower gears. e.g 2nd and 3rd surprisingly its quiet on 1st it tends to ease down when i am on 4th or 5th gear but off boost. when i get on it, and the turbo checks in, i hear a crackling whirr-ling sound, which increases with speed and its loud noticeable above the radio. when i let off or cruise on neutral, theres a bit of sound but can be barely heard. :-? i doubt its the diff because its not central but more too the left behind the rear passenger door(i am JDM right hand drive). note that there is no vibration or instability of the vehicle in anyway at any speed. gear changes are swift and smooth with no noise from the gearbox. what could this be? :smt017 rear wheel bearing, drive shaft?, theres no noise coming from the differential so i am assuming its okay. vehicle has never been launched, or thrashed e.g donuts, helis ,drifts etc. its my daily for work and school .
heres a picture of where the noise is coming from:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/09/DSC033851-1.jpg

[r3v_v3ng3]

maybe the wheel bearing

[d1giPhux]

Sounds like either a wheel bearing, or rear axle. But sounds more like wheel bearing to me. When my axle went.. it would make weird popping sounds when turning sort of. I'd guess wheel bearing. Try to get a sound clip if you can.

[kunchris]

heres the sound clip.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/09/th_IMG_0353-1.jpg (http://s757.photobucket.com/albums/xx215/kunchris_photos/?action=view&current=IMG_0353.mp4)

[kunchris]

heres a youtube version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKWvWFCON2k

[d1giPhux]

In the video.. are you reffering to the crackling noise.. sounds kind of like popcorn? You sure its not a heat shield or cat thats blown out and rattling around? Did you notice your exhaust note change at all? Are you for sure its coming from the wheel? I know my heatshields have made some WEIRD ass noises at certain RPM's before.. but that sounds odd. Unless its rattling junk in your cat, its possible it might be an axle?? I'm not too sure, but thats what I can tell from the noise posted.

Can you 'get rid of the noise' any way? Shifting into neutral, or stepping on the clutch? Just a thought to rule out the trans possibly?

[alexandermf]

sounds like a wheel bearing to me

[loganmossmusic]

I think it could be a wheel bearing. Lift that wheel up in the air and see if it can jiggle around like it wasnt connected all of the way. That would be an indicator.

[Wiscon_Mark]

If it's a wheel bearing, it should only be speed dependent, not gear or RPM dependent. Keep that in mind when you listen to it again.

And check your CV boots on the rear to make sure you're not about to have an axle snap at the joint (happened to me once, not fun).

[kunchris]

In the video.. are you reffering to the crackling noise.. sounds kind of like popcorn? You sure its not a heat shield or cat thats blown out and rattling around? Did you notice your exhaust note change at all? Are you for sure its coming from the wheel? I know my heatshields have made some WEIRD ass noises at certain RPM's before.. but that sounds odd. Unless its rattling junk in your cat, its possible it might be an axle?? I'm not too sure, but thats what I can tell from the noise posted.

Can you 'get rid of the noise' any way? Shifting into neutral, or stepping on the clutch? Just a thought to rule out the trans possibly?

i have a 2.5in catless turbo back exhaust. when i shift into neutral, the noise does disappears but there's a tiny winding noise. as the car rolls free. put it in gear and accelarate hard. and it comes back. note there are no vibrations or any instability. honestly if your a deaf person you wouldnt notice anything wrong with the car. could it be inner CV?? could it be making the rear half shaft vibrate?

[Wiscon_Mark]

That's not a wheel bearing then.

[d1giPhux]

Yeah.. doesnt sound like a wheel bearing to me. Sounds like either an axle.. or possibly throw out bearing related issue if pushing the clutch in makes the sound go away. Its hard to tell without really hearing it up close however.