brickheads:

my '87 244 makes a whirring sound when I'm driving, it gets louder and higher pitched the faster I go. It is almost inaudible below 40 mph but is quite noticable on the highway. does anyone have any idea what this may be? any input would be appreciated - thanks!

Scorch has it right on the nose. Get underneath your brick (4-Jack Stands) and see turn your driveshaft by hand. If the center support bearing makes any grinding noises then it's time for it too go. My bearing was making a whirling noise on cold mornings. I told my wife I had a jet-powered Volvo. She got a laugh out of it. Good Luck!!!

Sincerely,
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Nickvjr

1979 264GL B27F 121K

Features Added:

Central Locking System, 25mm IPD Front Sway Bar, 81+ Dash W/ Oil & Ambient Temp Gauges In C, Oil Pressure, Volts

Next Project:

BW55 Swap To A M46 (ALMOST DONE)

One of the most common failures on a 240 is the driveshaft's center support bearing, which will make a whining or whistling sound at higher speeds, varying with the road speed (especially in colder temperatures). The sound will be intermittent at first and get more and more prevalent. The next time you hear it, put it in neutral to make sure it's not engine or (probably) transmission related. Also, try turning if you can on the road to see if that effects the sound. If so, it's probably wheel bearings. If not, it's probably the center support bearing. It's not a difficult repair, and the parts and too expensive. Do a search on the archives for some good advice on replacing the center support bearing and its rubber mount.

could be a few things...you have to specify a bit more though...does the sound come from the front of the car or the rear? It rises with speed then, but does it have anything to do with how hard you push the accellerator? It could be wheel bearing(s), driveshaft U-joints, or transmission bearings. I have a sound that rises with speed that then cuts out when I turn on the OD. I believe that it is the 3rd main tranny bearing in my case, but it could be one of the other tranny bearings on your car. If it is one of those, they *should* last quite a while with just a little wear in them. So yeah, a better description of the problem will get you a more specific answer. good luck,
Nate Gundy
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'86 240DL, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways, and an engine that got out of rehab today and is as good as ever!