Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 18:29:11 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: request CV joint knock diagnosis confirmation
In-Reply-To: <ODEHLNBOBCAMPJFMBAPBKECDCKAA.fenzi@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Usually you can't duplicate CV knocking sounds by turning the wheel. The
CV needs to have a load on it to get the noise if it is worn and/or dry.
Two things can cause a knocking that one would swear is a CV knock. One
- the CV itself, obviously. Second, the CV bolts are loose. Been there,
done that on both counts. Fisrt hand experience can;t get better than
that! With the latter, all that was necessary was tightening and
retorquing the bolts, and everything was fine. With the former, I
replaced the CV's. My choice of CV's is Lobro. Good brand. I just bought
kits for each one. Came with new CV, tube of grease, boot, and I beleive
a circlip. Replacing CV's is not that difficult, and there are websites
that show every step if you haven't done it before. I think BenT has it
on his web site.
If this vehicle is pretty new to you, do yourself a favor and pull the
CV's, clean them thoroughly and look closely for wear damage, like
pitting expecially. Can be missed if not careful. If everything is
smooth and round, you are probably good to go, unless they are just
simply worn to the point of being out of spec, in which case you want to
get new CVs. Depending on your source, CV's can run from $45-$65 earch.
I prefer new CV's to buying a rebuilt assembly because I feel that the
engineers designed those things precisely, and rebuilt units have
oversized holes and ball bearings. Puts them out of spec in my book.
They may run forever, then again maybe not.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
millo fenzi wrote:
>Hi VanagonList,
>
>As a relatively new owner of a somewhat abused 86 Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
>I have been lurking on the list and learning lots.
>
>Have put in an AVP rebuild engine, SA big brakes, GoWesty 15" wheel/tire
>package and was just beginning (silly me!) to think I was ready for some
>trouble-free driving joy when I heard a gentle knocking from the rear. The
>knock sounded once every tire revolution. CV joints I said to myself. The
>knock went away for about 200 miles and then came back. Only louder. Now
>knocks pretty much consistently, slight change in tone if accelerating or
>decelerating. Slight change in timbre when turning left or right. Slight
>change in tone if going forward or in reverse. Just drove 1 mile and the
>knock was so loud and sharp that I could feel a slight jolt every time it
>rang out.
>
>So I jacked up the rear thinking that I should feel some roughness or hear a
>racket from the CV joints when I spin the rear wheels. Both spin smooth as
>silk and makes not a noise.
>
>My question is - "Is smooth silence typical from an unweighted handturned
>blown CV joint?" - or is some other expensive hard to fix thing broken?
>
>Thanks and happy holidays, seasons greetings, merry Christmas, etc.
>
>Millo Fenzi
>fenzi@comcast.net
>408-316-7806 [cell]
>
>
>
>
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