I recently aquired a 96 V-6 car, with a noisey rearend???? It's coming from the pass. side of the rear, but doesn't seem to affect any performance.... It just makes a loud rubbung/ grinding noise. The guy I got the car from gave me all the reciepts for service done to the car, and says he had it checked out (at the dealer), for them just to tell him it was a common noise form these cars??? any ideas, or is it just a nosiey rearend?

 

sounds like a wheel bearing or brake is acting up. if they changed the oil in it and didnt use additive it will make noise but mostly on turns. is there a particular time when it makes or doesnt make the noise?

 

Had a similar problem on my 02 Z28, took it to a mechanic to have it checked out and it wasn't pretty. I had to replace or have rebuilt the entire rear axle. I've heard this is a common problem with the 4th Gen.

 

Can you block the front wheels, jack it up, put in neutral and rotate the rear wheel where you hear the noise? Sometimes, if it is the brake, you can hear it and if it is the wheel bearing, you can feel it as you rotate the tire. Usually, if it is a bearing, it will make a roaring sound that will increase in frequency as you speed up. Brakes make more of a grinding sound.