Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 11:58:16 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: front wheel noise
In-Reply-To: <4e18628a.df4ee50a.798f.0b60@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Get the offending wheel off the ground, then gripe the tire at the top
and at the bottom and rock back and fourth in line with the spindle,
checking the amount of play. Loosen the nut then re-tighten per Bentley.
Regarding bearing races in the discs - I always use a big socket to
drive them out, then start the new ones back in by hand, then lightly
drive with a plastic mallet until I see they are started in pretty
straight and not cocked. Then I put a block of wood over the race and
tap against the block of wood, going in a circle, until the race is
seated. Notice I said TAP!! I saw a mechanic with many years of
experience crack the casting in the disk because he got in a hurry and
hammered that race - not tap. You don't want large movement as this will
tend to cock the race in the raceway, and that leads to trouble. Small
movements, induced by light tapping - just enough to keep it moving.
Regards,
John
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 7/9/2011 9:15 AM, Edward Maglott wrote:
> I have a noise that sounds like it's in my right front
> wheel. Definitely sounds like its in one of the front wheels. It's
> speed dependent, rrrraaoo, rrrraaoo, rrrraaoo, and I would say it's a
> wheel bearing based on what I've heard and diagnosed over the
> years. So here's what I've done:
>
> I replaced my warped front rotors (with OEM) and put in new pads
> (from the FLAPS.) I moved my cleaned and re-greased wheel bearings
> to the new rotors. Lithium based wheel bearing grease. I found the
> outer bearing seat was worn out on the right spindle. there was play
> between the bearing and the spindle and evidence of wear on the
> spindle that the bearing had been turning on the spindle. Even when
> properly adjusted, there was play between the outer bearing and it's
> seat on the spindle. (not sure if seat is the correct word
> there.) So obviously there was still terrible noise and play
> there. I drove about 10 miles total on that situation.
>
> With some difficulty, I got a replacement spindle (thanks Jim
> Felder!) and new ball joints. There was a very small amount of wear
> on the inside of the outer wheel bearing where it mates with the
> seat. I compared with a new set of wheel bearings, and there was a
> tiny amount of additional play with the old set, so I put in the new
> set. I don't have a press so I have carefully drifted the bearings
> in and out of the rotors each time.
>
> The sound does not seem to be affected by brake application or
> coasting in neutral. It seems to increase on turning to the left
> which loads the right side. It sounds to me and my GF like its
> coming from the right side but I'm not totally sure.
>
> I did notice that the guide pins on the caliper on that right side
> seem worn. Probably from the warped rotor period. The only other
> thing I can think of to replace is the left wheel bearing.
>
> Thanks for any ideas!
> Edward
>
>
|