Date:         Fri, 16 Jan 2004 09:53:17 +0000
Reply-To:     tp@WHSMITHNET.CO.UK
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tony Polson <tp@WHSMITHNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Grinding sound when rounding corners
Comments: To: Ryan Press <ryan@PRESSLAB.US>
In-Reply-To:  <2374.192.168.1.101.1074229841.squirrel@www.presslab.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8"

Ryan Press writes:
>
> Yah the transaxle feels tight, shifts good.  About 120k miles (odo broke,
> been fixed since).
>
> I hope it's not a transaxle, trying to fix this up on the cheap.  I've
> owned about 10 various cars so far, never heard a sound like this.  I had
> a '68 Ford truck once that the rear diff was so loose you could turn the
> driveshaft about 25 degrees by hand with the wheels still.  Made a THWUNK
> sound when you put it in gear and going down hills.  Never made a grindy
> sound though.
>
> Can I check the diff by leaving it in first gear say, and jacking up one
> wheel and turning it back and forth to see if it feels sloppy?  How much
> would a "good" transaxle move in this situation?



Hi Ryan,

A diff can be noisy without exhibiting excess free play.

Why not get a knowledgeable mechanic to ride with you and listen to the
problem?

Tony