Grinding from drive shaft?

[Redcap]

My mk2 gti 16v has now started to give a grinding noise when driving...
It is most noticable when going over bumps or when changing gear.

I have been underneath and had a listen..it seems to be coming from the drive shaft (Passenger side) near to the engine! (Is this a CV joint?) Any suggestions?

What needs replacing and at what cost? Is it a difficult job?

HELP! It is getting worse..I dont want to kill the car!

[GTI-BOY]

Chk your hub nuts are tightened properly, I had a similiar problem last week!
I heard a grinding noise from where I thought was the front drivers side which gradually got worse over two days. .  I also noticed a decline in handling, and braking was a bit dodge...
I assumed the noise was the wheel bearing but when I jacked the car up and chked, I noticed that my passenger side wheel + hub were loose, caused by the hub nut coming loose!!!  
Next time I'm chking the torque settings myself.

You would notice a clicking noise coming from the cv joint when cornering if it was knackered. Chk hub nuts + wheel bearing.  
 

[Redcap]

Tried that, jacked up the front end and checked the wheel, that seems solid enough. However there is slight movement on the drive shaft and a distinct rumble from the cylindrical casing next to the diff (I think thats what it is, I am a mechanical newbie) However its coming from the end nearest the engine, on the passenger side! It is getting louder. !!

Thanks

Oh by the way, hello to everyone here, I am new to the site and to the world of GTi's. I have posted a few questions already, you will notice that my little Mk2 needs some tlc! before I take it from my wife and put it on the track as a toy!

[GTI-BOY]

Is it getting hard to select a gear or anything? Have you chked the gearbox for oil? As far as I remember, there is a little play in the driveshafts.
You could also chk if brake pads or caliper carriers are loose.Chk all these are tight first. I know you said the noise is more towards the gearbox but you will be surprised how noise travels, and you may as well chk the easier stuff first.

I'm only starting out myself but I rebuilt my 8 valve and have run into almost every problem you can imagine and gained a little more experience along the way.

If you chked everything else then it's possible its a gearbox prob, perhaps a bearing? Anybody else have an idea??

[Gambit]

the driverside driveshaft has play in it, the passengerside is fixed

i also have a intermittent vibration that varies in degrees of intensity, sometimes only i feel it, other times it rattles the whole dash!

it would only occur on bumpy roads etc, or when i hit a compression going along the motorway

anyhow after months of checking everything around the front the car it was finally agreed yesterday that the cause is a worn flange in the hub, which every so often causes the wheel bearing to move every so slightly out of alignment causing the vibration

so in my case its a new wheel bearing & flange = ?30

worth checking as its apparently a common fault on them

[golfvr6]

Both driveshafts will have a little play, as the gearbox flanges are spring loaded on sliding joints.