Bizarre "hard metal" noise from bike

[Pastense]

Heres one for you tech heads.

Got a strange noise coming from my 2001 400ex.  It only happens when I turn left or right at slow or high speed.  I thought it was the bushings but definatley not.
However, I was wondering what do bad rear bearings sound like?  Are they more of a constant grinding niose or can it be intermittent?

Thanks

[rubicon500kid]

dang taht sux hop its not ur engine or any thing taht would suck
did u find out  what was wrong with ur tranny ?

[Dr.Dirt]

dang taht sux hop its not ur engine or any thing taht would suck
did u find out  what was wrong with ur tranny ?

WTF did you just say?

[ppark350se]

dang taht sux hop its not ur engine or any thing taht would suck
did u find out  what was wrong with ur tranny ?

WTF did you just say?

let me translate.

dang that suck hope it`s not your engine or anything that would suck.
did you find out what was wrong with your tranny?

there does thate help?

[Yamaha72]

Could definently be year rear axle bearings. My friend just changed his on his DS650 because they were making a horrible grinding metal noise and now it is fine. But it might not be this??? But it could be. You have no idea where the noise is coming from???

[klutchbuster400]

lfit the rear tires and spin the wheels and see what you hear. also check for cross play. try to move the axle forward and back. it could def. be bearings.

[Pastense]

I lifted the rear off the ground and checked for axle play.  Yeah, there seems to definatley be axle play. . ......

I take it that there should be virtually zero movement in the axle, except the obvious roll axis.   There should be zero to no free movement in the x and y axis of the axle. 

Correct?

[Yamaha72]

CORRECT if your axle is just flopping every which way.  YOU NEED NEW BEARINGS AND FAST!!!!!!!!!!!! If you keep riding on it repairs will get MUCH  more costly.

[Toomey]

I rode my Blaster with toasted bearing just for a few hours and I finished off the entire axle carrier, ended up costing $100 for a used stock setup, plus the axle was like impossible to get out of the carrier.  Oh well, that's what dirt bikes are for...