I have some grinding noise coming from the back of the car (205k+miles). It starts as I'm slowing down and accelerating(under 20mph). I thought it might be my rear end. Then someone else told me it could be the wheel bearings. I'm a full time college student and don't have the funds for a 9 inch now. I know people say don't waste any money on the 10 bolt, but this is my only car. Has anyone had similar symptoms? What turned out to be the culprit?

Also, the guy who rebuilt my tranny (I know the guy) recommended me to a rear end shop. I went today and they said they can check out the car for free, even if I end up not leaving the car there for repair. I asked about a gear change and they said it was about $150 more to put in new gears (3.73 or 4.10). If I change the rear end bearings, should I also get the gears changed (4.10's most likely) since I'm gonna have the same amount of down time and don't beat on the car. The car's an M6, btw.[/align]

 

People with long tubes have had this issue before and I had it too. If I remember either your Y pipe or the LT itself is rubbing up against something. Damn I forgot what its called. But this should be very inexpensive if it's the problem. Take it to a GOOD exhaust shop that knows what they're doing and or that you trust. Its actually not coming from the back but under the driver side around that area. Tell them to sit in the car so they can hear it and then put it on a lift. Hope that helps

 

Really? I've had that exhaust set up for over a year now and this has never happened, but maybe your right. Another reason why I thought it might be the rear end is because when I took the car to a shop to get the diff fluid changed, he showed me there was metal in the oil and said my bearings are wearing out. I guess I'llneed to get it raised, spin the wheels to see if I can replicate thesound andtry to find the source.

 

What do your rear brakes look like? You may have a sticking caliper. check the condition of the pads and rotors. A wheel bearing is usually a groaning/ humming type of noise. If was your rear end you would more than likely hear it all the time, not just on accel/ decel.

 

This is initially what I thought because I've heardthe grinding soundbefore in a few other cars that ended up having brake problems. Then I thought the worst (rear end) and went with that, never bothering to simply glance at the rotors. Well, I took it in to the shop this morning and they told me it was the brakes. You could totally see it on the rear driver side! LOL! I felt like a rookie. I was already preparing for those 4.10's becauseafter I found out it was the brakes, I was still going to have them dothe gear swapanyways.

 

lol yeah, once your brake pad is gone its metal on metal. Which destroys rotors lol.