Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:44:32 -0500
Reply-To: oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Oxroad <oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Clunking sound
In-Reply-To: <08c901c845d2$954c3f70$ab01a8c0@Bohemian>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I'll bet this is not your problem, but:
To make a long story short, I had an annoying slight clicking that increased it's speed with the speed of the bus. After much looking it turned out to be the stock plastic "wire wheel" hub caps on the bus.? They've been slightly cracked and somewhat repaired over the years and despite all that still look good--but a little noisy. My guess is there's so many forces pulling at the hubcaps that once they start to spin any imperfection is bound to make some kind of noise. And so it does.
The test is obviously taking off the hub caps, and if the sound goes away, Voila!
The older style and heavier -early 80s-- hub caps I have are probably more prone to noise than the later saucer style hub caps.
Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Snook <matt@SNOOKSBAND.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 6:13 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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