Date:         Sun, 28 Sep 2003 12:53:39 EDT
Reply-To:     Simplstupd@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Paul Wies <Simplstupd@AOL.COM>
Subject:      82 auto cv/differential help
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hey Folks,

I posted this awhile back but only 1 response.  The problem has gotten worse:

When going in *reverse* the Van makes a noise that sounds *exactly* like a
bad cv joint.
Click click click.  Sounds exactly like a Honda or Toyota FWD making a turn
with a bad cv joint.  It makes this clicking in reverse probably 90% of the
time.

Going forward it did not start making the noise until last week.  It would
click when going from a stop and would occur up to like 15 mph then stop.  Then
as the week went on it would make the noise *real loud* when the trans was
changing like from 2nd to 3rd gear.  But, it only did this 2x and I drove the van
300 miles last week.

Last night I checked all 4 boots and made sure the 12 pt bolts were tight.  I
then grabbed the cv axle in the middle and rocked it side to side.  The
drivers side rocked about an inch or two and made a very slight click on each end.
To me kinda normal although the one to two inch play seemed excessive.  On
the passenger side, though, it made a real bad clunk when I rocked the axle
towards the differential.  Clunk clunk when doing that.

Finally, I grabbed the flange of the differential to see if there was any
play, and there is.

So, after looking in the manual, there are some bearings in that
differential.  Has anyone had this type of bearing failure before on an auto?  Not sure
what year this trans is from; the Van was originally a 4spd.  Otherwise, it
shifts great, does fine in forward gears(up until this week).

Thoughts?
Thanks........
Paul
'82 GL