Quote Originally Posted by Z U L8R
your rear end could definately be a possibility, but there's a couple easy little things you could check before you pull the diff cover off and examine the internals....

possible cause #1. check your exhaust, make sure it's secure and has clearance everywhere, especially at the top of the muffler from the bumper and what not. usually the top of the muffler will rub whatever's above it and can make noise like that.

#2 sometimes a broken tranny mount will let the top of the transmission rub on the transmission tunnel, so your transmission vibrating against the chassis is another possible cause. get under the car and push up on the tail of the tranny to test that

the other things that come to mind

possible pilot bearing worn out
play in the imput shaft of the transmission/front pump bearing
possible midshaft bearing aka center bearing for the driveshaft (if applicable)

then what you said, possible rear end damage...

i suggest you check the exhaust and make sure it's not rubbing on something before you get all crazy and pull the diff cover off.

gl man,
Dave =]

ps, is ur car a 4age 86 corolla gts?
We had done a swap to a another engine/tranny ( same type, just later year ) and about 70 miles later driving it started to gradually make this noise. It was a new pilot bearing. Just put in another engien and the original transmission as well as checking the input shaft bearing, which turned out to be good, so I'm pretty sure the transmission is ruled out. Also, the noise started back when it had the OEM original exhaust. No mid bearing on the driveshaft. Pilot bearing is a possibility.

And no, my car is a 1987 Mitsubishi Starion with a G54B engine