After reversing out of the driveway, and braking to a stop, when I depart (forward) there's an occasional loud "thrum" - it sounds as if there's been some spring tension taken up somewhere in the underpinning which gets released when the vehicle moves forward. As I say, it's not constant - possibly due to the amount of torque exerted during braking - and basically impossible to duplicate intentionally. I should mention that the reverse leg ends with a 1/2 turn right or left as dictated by the daily plan. The direction of turn doesn't seem to have any effect on the production of the noise. I had my dealer look into it about a year ago, and they weren't able to come up with anything either (possibly looking more closely at the front suspension - I think it sounds more like the rear...). The vehicle: '98 V70, 200K KM, purchased March '06 at 170K KM, last major work done was replacement of rear disks and rotors about two years ago, nothing else of note.
Also: where's a safe place to set jack stands at the rear of this vehicle for ease in giving the underneath a good going over? Thanks everyone.
gus boy

Could it be a parking brake shoe that came loose? The holding brackets do get rusty and eventually break.

Klaus
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

Klaus:
You might be getting me closer to the problem. I had the rear disks and calipers replaced in early '09 (one side seized, the other sticking), and we started to detect this noise condition some time later. My service people were concentrating on the front end of the vehicle and found nothing -perhaps it's time to attack the back. Thanks again - I'll report further.
Garth

To confirm, roll your windows down, all 4, stick you head out of the window and lift off the brake like normal.

There are 2 buckles in the rear brake housing to activate the shoes. They tend to rust and weld themselves together. I lathered mine with brake grease to keep the rust from instantly reforming.

Klaus
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

Does the noise only happen when initially pulling forward? Mine has a vibrating heat shield that lets itself be known at 1200-1400 rpm, when the engine is cold.

Klaus
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

Thanks for the memories, Klaus. I can still recall a loose heat shield in a '76 1/2 Datsun pickup - it drove me nuts for a while. But no - this noise only occurs during the first 1/2 revolution of the wheels, then never again. The red brute is generally quiet on the road, and that's why I'm fearful of the Grand Snap some day, which will leave no doubt as to where the noise was coming from.
Regards,

Garth