Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 06:12:24 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear Wheel (bearing?) noise.
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEuLa7GSxgAC8dD-5enX0uO_kLmq_FEj9oAiWhaSO9PJb8Q@mail.gmail.com>
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Use a stethoscope or the screwdriver to ear method to further isolate the
noise. Rear wheel bearings last a long time but they do require lubrication
at some point. If a rear wheel bearing is suspected they really need to be
replaced as a failure under way can be catastrophic and will often result in
the stub axle or wheel flanged being trashed. Bearing noise with
acceleration changes point more to transmission problem than a wheel
problem.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Don Hanson
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 3:18 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Rear Wheel (bearing?) noise.
Not long ago I replaced both my CV joints on the right axle, having done
the left a season ago. I was hoping this CV replacement might also quiet
down the right rear wheel...but it has not. Since I put on some new rear
Hakka tires, I can hear this 'bearing-style' noise more clearly, especially
when I am running straight at about 30mph (below where the wind noise drowns
it out) on very smooth asphalt. The noise I am hearing has been with the van
all along, I think, but not enough to be really alarming or a "stop
driving, something's gonna bust" type noise.... Since I'm leaving soon to
do about 4000 miles along mostly remote rural highways on my annual winter
snowbird migration, I am trying to address most of the problems I can
anticipate...within reason, of course...I can't afford to rebuild the whole
bus or buy a Go Westie Gold-plated Syncro with Extended warranty.
This morning, while I had the floor jack out to do some lubing of the
shift linkage and to spread some peanut oil on my header system (inline four
with custom exhaust) I did some 'diagnostics'. With either rear wheel
lifted and the vehicle in neutral, of course the wheel in the air
spins....5sp manual tranny.. but you can stop it with your hand....So,
neither wheel makes any unusual noise in that mode.......Grabbing the tires,
top and bottom and rocking the wheels....both feel very similar in
'play'....what you normally feel when testing like this...maybe about 1/8"
of rocking...over all...similar to what I always feel on any wheelbearing
for freeplay...Ok... Now, when I put the tranny in gear with one rear tire
in the air....the driver's side is quiet...the tire turns like when it is
being dragged over in neutral...at about the same noise level and it feels
smooth....but on the right rear wheel, when you let out the clutch....that
one sounds like bad bearings....Shift into neutal and let it go
round...quiet....
So, with new CV already and no undue freeplay at the wheel indicating bad
wheel bearings...and no alarming noise when the wheel is turning under
clutch drag, but ugly noise when it is turning in 2nd gear with the wheel
up....What? Maybe related....I sometimes get a buzzing vibration on hard
acceleration from a dead stop, combined with a left turn...I have surmised
this is caused by my 50degree engine configuration allowing some contact
with the body...but maybe not...maybe related to the right wheel drive in
some way. .I have a new set of wheel bearings for the rear that I planned
on taking along as spares on my trip..
I have no indications of transmission problems (unless this noisy right
side drive wheel is one). I am running Swepco, changed out twice per year
and I have not seen any metal in the old oil....
I'm OK doing repairs away from home on my own, but I don't want to lose a
transmission while on a trip. This noise has been with the van for as long
as I have had it...I am 'caught up' enough on all the other stuff now to
let it bother me a little.. Should I just do the wheel bearing and see if
the noise remains, then worry about the tranny or something else? Any way
to further isolate this off-sounding rotational noise without doing the
wheel bearing right now? (it's 27degrees in my shop, I'd rather do it in the
desert in 80degrees, despite the sand)
Anyone have any thoughts on this that might help?
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