Knocking noise - Gearbox/Diff

Thought I'd post my recent experience as I didn't find any reference to this problem when I was serching for "knocking noises" on the site...

My 2004 vrs has had the knocking noise for about the last 6 months getting steadily worse; a few mechanics had looked but couldn't find anything.

The noise is more of a dull knocking - a few on here have mentioned a noise like driving over the rumble strips next to the hard shoulder - it was like that(but quieter obviously) and worse on slight left hand bends. But no noise over bumps and no noise on full lock....and no change when dipping the clutch so not engine/gearbox...or so I thought.

I've managed to find a good local garage and took the guy for a drive - he heard the noise and suspected the usual - cv joint/arb bushes.

Left the car and got a call two hours later to say the noise is in the gearbox; probably the diff. Ended up needing two or three different diff bearings and a new planetry gear set (whatever that does).. £850 spent :eek: ...but it's great to have a quiet car again.