Replaced the front rubber driveshaft connector today and listened to the center bearing with a length of hose to ear while the rear end was up on jackstands and the front end on ramps. Didn't seem to make any unusual noises. Afterwards I took a test drive and I still hear the same sound, like the rear tires are snowtires. No rear wheel bearing play that I could feel. Again, only 80K miles on the car.

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1988 300E