With the car stationary, turn full lock left and hold the steering wheel hard over. If you hear the noise it will be from the power steering pump or possibly the drive belt slipping. If you only hear the noise when moving, then it will be something mechanical, possibly something rubbing.

 

Could also be the early signs of worn wheel bearing as they tend to hum or whine

 

Smiley/Martin, I have the EXACT I repeat exact symptom (for 1.8 Laguna year 2000 W)but mine happens when (1) moving off from a staionery start to the left only (never to the right) and (2) at speed banking to the left you get the same sudden noise when under pressure (exactly how you have described). MOT a month ago said there was nothing that failed so wouldn't worry until next MOT. Meanwhile I did get ball lower ball joints and n/s/f coil changed. But noise still there.

Smiley, did you find a cure

Martin, as this happens from start and at speed will it be what you have described. I did have an o/s/f bearing done about 18 mth ago so can't see it being that. Any comments would really be a help. Regards

 

It could be the n/s/f bearing then. I had to have both of mine replaced.

 

Mine was the wheel bearing.

 

Smileyk, thanks for getting back.

Which wheel bearing was it that you got done that fixed your left turn whine. I had my o/s/f bearing done 18 mth ago so I cannot see it being this one. Please tell me it was the other side and then I may be on the way to finding a cure too Stange that I did not get a wheel bearing fault or advisory on my last month MOT.

Anyone: Is it possible that bearing problems do not always get picked up on MOT's??

thanks for all chipping in so far. Hope for a result soon. Please send in your suggestions . I will report back as I have diagnosed this problem. Hope to hear soon. I bet your well Smileyk now:d

 

Glad you got it sorted SmileyK and thanks for keeping us updated

 

When a car is travelling in a straight line the weight is evenly distributed throughout all the wheel bearings and it is not uncommon for worn ball bearings to get noisy when the load is reduced. In reality worn bearings are actually vibrating and a load on them can have a damping effect. The best way to tell which bearing is worn on the drive axle is to jack the car up one side at time and run the car in gear up to around 25 mph. Do one side then the other and listen for a difference - generally the noise will increase in over-run - when you take your foot of the throttle. WARNING!! This procedure should only be done using secUre jacks and props.

 

Laguna going in today to see if bearing or driveshaft. I will get back to you all soon
Reg

 

Sorry Noel, weather turned bad for me to do the manly thing with axles n stuff. At this stage in life, I try as far as possible to ID problem and then pass this on to mechanic to hopefully make his job a llittler easier (possibly)