"W. Silva" wrote: > > We are supposed to be leaving for MD in the morning, doesn't look like it's > going to happen. We have been experiencing a banging noise in what we > thought was the left rear wheel off and on for about 6 months. We have had > the rear brake drum turned because it was a little out of round and the > noise went away only to come back a month later - worse. > Out of desperation last Friday we ordered a complete axle shaft to be > shipped second day from Calif. Received it today, the mechanic took the old > one out and said he couldn't find anything wrong with it and that's probably > a good thing because the fools send the wrong side, they sent the right > side. He is putting it back together and pulling the right side just to > check. I hope he finds it there because that only leaves the wheel bearings > and that's a MAJOR job and it wouldn't be ready in time. I don't know what > else to check, any ideas? It sounds like someone hitting the wheel hub with > a hammer, is less obvious at high speeds, gets louder as you slow down to a > stop (without touching the brakes) then softer when you apply the gas (I > guess when there is torque on the shaft). Applying the brakes does not > change the noise in any way. If you have any insight on this one, please > let us know.

Sounds like it could be ring and pinion gears inside the tranny. A chip in the big ring gear will make a lot of noise when you decelerate. The noise could be transmitting to the brake drum.

Just a thought.

Grant