Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 11:38:08 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: some sort of clunking - rear end
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Hi Brett,
I find real wheel bearing play on vanagons all the time..
it's common ...it just developes in the rear outer bearing as the miles
build up.
however..
this is how to check for that play..
grab wheel top and bottom and try to tilt it ..
like lift up on the bottom ..
and observe how far the top moves in and out. ( up to 1/8 inch is common
....but not really right ..
but not 'desperately bad' either ....more than that is 'better do
something.' )
the wheel/tire should not, and can not really , move directily inward and
outwards.
If that is really happening ..
something is most odd. It's semi not possible.
at least remove the cotter pin and check that the big nut is super tight.
if that wasn't installed tightly enough .....that can lead to bad things.
At least undo the big nut,
and remove brake drum and wheel flange..
then grab the end of the stub axle ( where the bit nut was ) and try to
wiggle up and down.
That up-down play usually is from wear in the outer roller bearing, which
has a ton of load on it. I'm amazed at how well they last actually.
I have never actually seen one fail...
they can sure get worn though .
Once they get sifnificant wear, you just know it's time to do both rear
wheel bearings and seals on that side.
normally ...you expect the right side to wear a little more than the left
side..
but the last few vans I checked..
it was the left ( driver's ) side that had the most play there.
groans make me think of bushings ..
the only ones I have had that happen on are the front upper a-arm inner
bushings.
They really like to groan on bumps sometimes.
let us know what you find with the big nut back there..
if you get the drum and flange off, check that the backing plate is mounted
firmly ...
two 17mmhex head bolts at the bottom, on 13mm hex head on the back side,
upper.
also check that the four 22mm hex head large bolts that hold the bearing
housing to the trailing arm are tight. They sure should be very, very tight.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "brett rueff" <rueffy@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: some sort of clunking - rear end
Had a chance to do some investigating today. Both the shocks appear good -
I jacked the car and pulled/pushed and twisted the shocks at the upper and
lower bolts and couldn't see much play.
On the rear drivers side wheel I jacked it up and I managed to find some
play. If I grab the wheel on each side and pull the entire wheel using an
in and out motion I can feel some significant in and out play with a clunk
each time it reaches the limit of the play. I tried it on the passenger side
and there was a tiny bit of play but nowhere near as much. Back to drivers
side I had a helper pull in and out while I looked for things. There is no
play between the rim and the studs so any play must be behind the backing
plate. I also couldn't see any movement on the axle shaft so it must be
outside of there right? The axle nut appears tight and has a safety pin in
it so im not sure how that can come loose. All that leaves is wheel
bearings and CV - is that right?
Im not sure if this is related but when I jack the car up and down im also
getting a creaking/groaning noise from the same area (somewhere in and
around the wheel hub)
Thanks group. Looks like I might be doing an axle/bearing
dissasembly -hopefully I can put it off till winter.
BrettVancouver BC91 Vanagon, EJ22
From: rueffy@hotmail.com
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: some sort of clunking
Date: Mon, 9 May 2011 04:21:27 +0000
Is there a procedure to check the suspension in the rear of the Vanagon? I
have a random clunk that is coming from the back of the van somewhere - i
cant narrow it down. sometimes accelerating, sometimes just cruising,
mostly straight but occasionally turning. I've tried taking it in a parking
lot and done tight turns to see if its CV but cant get it to clunk. i've
jacked the rear wheels and tried grabbing the wheel at top/bottom and
rocking and again side to side - no play.
Any other rear suspension testing ideas? Its a pretty loud clunk on average
about once or twice each time i drive around the city.
Brett91 Vanagon, EJ22 Vancouver, BC
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