Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2006 13:23:16 -0700
Reply-To: Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: REAR WHEEL WOBBLE
In-Reply-To: <20060709195443.1457.qmail@web51501.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
First place to check might be to see if they replaced the small bolts that are supposed to secure the rear brake drums to the hubs. Most alloy and after-market wheels REQUIRE these bolts to be REMOVED to fit properly. Leaving the bolts in place would cause the wheels to not seat squarely to the face of the drum, leaving considerable visible "wobble". Just jack up the van, and pull one of the rear wheels, as if changing out a flat. Look to see if there are two small (11mm head) bolts on the wheel contact surface of the drum. If there are, take them off. Reinstall wheel. Repeat for other side. Test drive to see if that fixed the issue.
The good news would be that the bolts are easy to remove, aren't needed for most installations, and best of all, there should not be any permanent damage to suspension or tires, if you remove the bolts soon.
Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
Greetings to the List,
Last Friday I picked up my van after it was worked on by the oldest and best VW shop in town. Had the rear brakes done (new drums and shoes), new emergency brake cable, R & R the power steer rack and had the CVs repacked. Big bill but seemed fair to me.
Today I was driving up A1A in Jacksonville Beach and pulled up along side another vanagon. The driver yelled over to me that my rear wheels were wobbling. I immediately pulled over and pulled on the rear wheels but there was no play while parked, and the lug nuts are all there and tight. I drove off and looked in the rear view and sure enough there is a significant wobble in both rear wheels. It’s Sunday and I can’t call the shop but I’m wondering what happened during the brake job to cause the wheels to wobble (assuming it was the drums etc).
I’m really worried because since Friday I have put 180 miles on the car, including running on I-95 at 70 mph. What could be causing the wobble and have I potentially caused damage to the CV joints, transmission or something else? Is it safe to drive or should I get it towed? The shop is nearly 50 miles away on the north side of town. I appreciate your help. I have the 15” Rhein wheels and Dueler AT Revos. Also, in case it makes a difference, before they replaced the E-cable it had about 70 degrees of play to lock, and now it locks at about 15-20 degrees.
Young son and I were headed out tomorrow or Tuesday up to South Carolina to fish and camp. I’m very grateful to the vanagon driver to point out something that hundreds of drivers must have noticed between now and last Friday, and if we had headed out on our trip could have caused damage to us or the van.
Thanks, Anthony
'89 Syncro GL (Hidalgo)
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