It's hard to really listen well with your bare ears. You need a lift and a mechanic's stethoscope to find the source of your sound. If you don't have one, a piece of hose is often used for such a purpose. I've used a large, long screwdriver touched to the part and pressed against the ear to help transmit sounds for tracking the source of the sound. A broom handle or other thick dowel will also work. You can't touch a spinning assembly (obviously!), but you can usually find a stationary part that's very near to the spinning object in question. I've troubleshot engine and wheel bearings, lifters/ rockers, gears and generator/ alternators using this method. It's an amazingly helpful tool. HF has them cheap; http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41966 and expensive, high-tech; http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95653 HTH, Mike B. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthew Snook" <matt@SNOOKSBAND.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 9:13 PM Subject: Re: Clunking sound
> It has been interesting to read all of the experiences and diagnoses. I > think I'm about to add another one. > > About a month ago, I started to hear a very slight sound. It was barely > audible when I either let up on the gas or took it out of gear at very > slow > speeds, like coasting into a parking place. I had Jim Arnott listen > (since > he's an old hand with these machines), and he could hear it, but we > couldn't > find a source. So I had a mechanic put it up on the rack and listen, > checked the CV's and other running gear without success. So I drove it > down > south, over to the coast a couple of times, around the state... No > change. > Sometimes it sounded like something rubbing on the right rear tire, and > seemed to go with the speed of the wheels. At near stopped, it was a > faint > clicking. Present when coasting or decelerating, absent when > accelerating. > At slow speeds, it was a rhythmic throb sound - like something rubbing on > the tire. One time, and once only, I heard a distinct rattle as I > accelerated out of a tight right turn. > > Then yesterday I took off for a run into town and instead of the faint > sounds, I had a definite rhythmic clunk, just like Janet described. > Tomorrow morning it's into the shop. > > So, any guesses before I get the final word? Sure sounds like CV joints > is > the consensus. > > Matt > > -----Original Message----- > From: Janet Sanford > Subject: Clunking sound > > So I hear a clunking sound coming from the back tire or front tire - > pretty > sure back driver side > > clunk clunk clunk when I start to move - it goes away at faster speeds - > well probably just can't hear it going fast... > |
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