What happens is that when I am driving at any speed over 30 and I bank to the left (like turning into a curve) there is a fairly significant growling noise that appears to be emanating from the rear of the vehicle. The noise disappears immediately when the car is driven straight. This noise is not evident when banking to the right. Is this a sign of a differential problem?

 

When you turn you load the wheel bearings in different directions. If the change in noise is significant when you turn, you most likely will need a wheel bearing, tires can also have the same symptoms of noise but the sound difference when turning will not be as great. I would rotate your tires and see if the noise changes to a different location on the car, if it does change, then you need tires, if the sound still comes from the same corner, you probably need a wheel bearing.

 

Wheel bearing (generic test) is fairly simple. Not sure of the Jaguar configuration but you can try to simple things. Jack the car high enough to get the suspected wheel off the ground. Grab the wheel at 6 and 12 o'clock. Attempt to rock back and forth (pushing in at 12 while pulling at 6). There should be no play. Test to compare on another wheel.

Second, remove the dust cover over the bearing. look in the dust cap for metal shavings. remove the cotter pin and castle nut. Again I haven't removed a wheel on this model but assume a wheel's a wheel. after the castle nut is pulled, remove the bearing. Look for lack of grease and wear. Bearings are generally cheap and easy replacements for DIYer's. Really not much more than tire changing skill.

If the tire rotation and wheel bearing tests both pass, report back for other options.

Best of luck

 

Ok, it cannot be the tires because they are brand spanking new (expensive Continentals). I will be checking the bearings this weekend. Gut tells me is not that but I have been wrong before. I'll report back when I know more.

 

The wheel bearings on your car are sealed units---there is no dust cover and they cannot be disassembled to check wear!.

You may or may not be able to feel play in the wheel bearing,however the bearing can still be noisy when loaded.

 

New tires...are you sure one is not rubbing in the wheel well?

Most wheel bearings I've had go bad make a rumble noise at all times...not only when cornering.

 

I have lived with it for the past few months but now its time to do something about this. It is the left rear wheel bearing. There is quite a bit of play when the wheel is rocked as described in Sean's post above but there is absolutely no movement when compared with the right rear wheel.