the last week my '96 t5 95k has developed a vibration mostly felt through the steering wheel begining at 65mph upto 100mph it dies down at around 110mph, the tires have just been balanced TWICE so i'm sure is not them.

i have had the car on a joist with the front wheels off the ground and i have noticed a loud knocking/clunking noise coming from the left hand driveshaft area (passenger side UK spec) going forwards, backwards, left or right.

this noise begins from 20mph onward and is worse at around 40mph, this occurs with the tyre off or on and even with the hub assembly removed completely with only the inner and outer cv's and driveshaft spinning!!! but the noise does not happen with the car on the ground.

the outer cv has been replaced on the side the noise is coming from so i don't think it's that but could it be the inner cv??? it sounds like one of the three ball bearings in the inner joint tripod has broke and is rattling around.

apart from the steering wheel vibration at speed i have had no other problems i.e brake shudder, vibration when accelerating/decelerating or knocking when taking slow full lock turns.

any ideas would be greatly appreciated

thanks