2005 XC90 2.5T droning noise at 40 mph while slowing down

[cn90]

- Car is 2005 XC90 2.5T with 115K miles. P.O. had the LF wheel bearing replaced at 45K (local Jensen Tire shop, brand of wheel bearing unknown).

- Now this is strange, I have looked in different forums...

- Acceleration: no problems, no noise.

- Deceleration: only at 40 mph, I hear a "rrrrr" noise coming from the LF side. This is how it is: at 60 mph, no noise, let the gas off, as the car slows to 40 mph ---> "rrrr" noise, then no noise at 30 mph.

- When the noise happens at 40mph during deceleration, if I shift to Neutral: no noise at all!

- If this is truly Front Bearing, then I expect the noise to increase with speeds, but this is not the case. The fact that the noise goes away when shifting to Neutral tells me this could be an internal trans issue. But this Aisin Trans is known to be "bullet-proof".

- Any advice???

PS: Car is AWD but the Angle Gear Sleeve is stripped (tested on snow and only the FRONT wheels spin, so Bevel gear is disconnected from the Trans).

[SuperHerman]

Is your car awd or fwd?

Check your CV for signs of damage. Check your tires for any thing odd. Check your fluid levels applicable to your XC90. Check your propeller shaft if AWD - the front CV gets crusty with age. Check your center carrier bearing if AWD. Check your bevel gear if AWD - look for leaks - grab the pinion and see if there is any play.

[cn90]

- Update: Stripped Angle Gear Sleeve...

- Went to dealer, had a test drive with master tech, came back to dealer, car on lift, another tech sat in the car and put it in Drive...

- Noise came from the junction between Trans and Angle Gear...so the Sleeve is stripped.

- I know this topic of Stripped Sleeve very well. So likely leave it alone for now. Dealer tells me the "new redesigned" sleeve should be good for the rest of the car's life (this is b/c I asked "what is the point of replacing the sleeve to be back to square one 1-2 years later with another stripped sleeve?").

- The tech told me the Angle Gear INPUT shaft: 50% of the time when they removed it, the splines are stripped ---> new re-mfg Angle Gear is about $2500.

- One of these days if I have time, I may remove the Angle Gear for good...

[precopster]

Our 2006 XC90 2.5T has about the same miles. Here we go again with withholding essential repairs until the car is worth nothing!!
On the bright side our car finally gave away a CEL last week that explains the absurd fuel consumption we've been getting lately; turbo boost sensor.

[SuperHerman]

Why not just pull the prop shaft and leave the bevel gear alone?