now this problem has been bugging me for @ least the past year. @ speeds over 26mph(its pretty right on as if i go slower than that you don't hear it) i get this sound which sounds like a piece of sheet metal flapping in the wind very fast. as rpms rise and fall it stays @ the same rate and doesn't get any louder, so its not an engine sound... right? as speed increases over that mark(from 26-70+mph) the rattling sounds the same, doesn't increase in frequency or volume... so that means its not driveline/wheel bearing right??? also when i make turns to either side @ higher speeds(sweeping turns) it stays the same and doesn't change @ all. you can hear it from either side of the car and it sounds like it is coming from the front. weither there is a car on your right or left side you can hear it just as loud from each side.

so i'm @ a loss as to what can be making this sound, in the last few months i've replaced both motor mounts, tranny mount, driveshaft center support bearing and bushing, replaced all 4 tires twice(its been that many miles and i picked up a set of hydra's), gone under the car 20+ times and everything is tight, nothing loose. heatsheilds have a little side to side play but all of the rivets are in there tight. i have replaced front calipers and lines, greased the rear brakes. i am going insane over this sound as it is loud when there is a car next to you.

what else is there to check?? i have replaced my AW71 4 times in the last year ago because of other OD issues(first tranny lost it w/o warning, 2nd tranny i put in didn't have OD, 3rd tranny was fine for 2 months till it started slipping and this 4th tranny is a known good tranny from my other car that got hit).... so i am thinking i MIGHT have a cracked flexplate which could be the cause of the sound but in all of the times i had the tranny off i never saw any marks or cracks on my flexplate, tho i could of overlooked them. but if it was it should be making that sound if i bring the revs up in park/N no? i had the car on jackstands(all 4 off the ground) and put it in gear and let the rear tires spin up to 50mph or so(via speedo) and never heard any sounds thinking that would eliminate driveline sounds tho since there was no real load on the driveline that might not of proved anything.

so yea any tips/advice on what else to check?? should i pull the tranny back off and remove the flexplate and really inspect it?? or what else could be causing this sound?? bad ujoints?? i know mine have a little to much play as they do feel tight but you can feel them clunk every now and then ( i have 3 new ones laying around to put in) ....i did also have an issue w/ my power steering groaning when i would rev the motor over 3k but that was fixed w/ a good flush on it and i havn't had a problem since, but i was wondering maybe the sound is from the PS pump but shouldn't it make that sound if i bring the revs up in park?

could it be a wheel bearing? if so would one side being bad make all of this noise on both sides of the car so clearly.

thanks

mike