Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 18:44:59 -0500
Reply-To: Mike B <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike B <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: cv, wheel bearings, or both?
In-Reply-To: <CAH3v19Ln0Qp5_KPt-Wh0E=nTgdwPyj596PbGjverU3AMBERehg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Well, one time I had a rear inner CVJ on my '84 Vanagon GL come
loose, which amounted to catastrophic failure while I was driving. a
couple of the CV bolts somehow came loose, and the remaining ones
snapped off flush in the flange. I could not drive any further, so I
put it back together with the 2 good bolts and carefully drove home.
VW's have always amazed me with the ability to still get them home after
some sort of problem. There was very little warning or noise before
that issue happened. This particular van had over 200K miles and had
many repairs completed over a period of several years while I owned and
maintained it. I only sold it when I found the '87 Westy GL that I'm
driving now, to make room in my driveway. I guess you never know...
Mike B.
On 1/3/2013 6:17 PM, Craig Cowan wrote:
> I've never heard of a rear cv on a vanagon failing catastrophically enough
> to affect driving.
> Generally they just start to clunk when turning one way.
>
> Yep, 1 wheel drive in snow. GOOD snow tires help alot.
> Otherwise a 2wd vanagon is "ehh" in snow.
>
> The droning could also be a transmission related issue, such as a failing
> Ring/Pinion Gear or Bearing.
> Rule out wheel bearings first and change your transmission fluid if you
> never have.
>
> -Craig
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 3, 2013 at 5:59 PM, Zoran Mladen <zmaninco@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I would agree that the droning is likely a wheel bearing.
>>
>> As far as the one wheel drive...that is correct! These vans...as most
>> cars are...is a one wheel drive vehicle. Whichever rear wheel has the
>> lesser resistance will spin. Hence, if you raise one rear wheel in the
>> air, the van is not going anywhere.
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Jan 3, 2013, at 15:35, Ed Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>
>>> As soon as it's not quite so cold out, I'll jack up the van and do a
>> little more investigating, but until then, I pose this question here. This
>> is about my 1984 Vanagon.
>>> I have two symptoms. One is a noise from the rear which I think might
>> best be described as a "droning." I hear it almost all the time that the
>> vehicle is in motion. I haven't really listened for it at low speeds, but I
>> hear it when I'm going about 30 mph, my average speed on my back roads. It
>> is more prominent when cornering to the left. I hear it whether the van is
>> in gear or not, and whether the clutch is in or out. This is what makes me
>> think it may be a wheel bearing.
>>> My second symptom makes me wonder if I have a cv joint issue. I realize
>> that when a cv joint goes, it usually means that the vehicle won't move, as
>> the transmission can't turn one axle if the other has a bad cv. But I was
>> traveling on snow, and I wonder if that allowed the wheels to turn
>> independently and made a difference. I was traveling up a slight incline on
>> snow and the van went up the hill partially sideways, probably at a 30
>> degree angle. It seemed like one wheel was turning more than the other, and
>> I had to steer accordingly so that the van went up the hill in my lane, but
>> at an angle. There was not significant difference in the rear tires to make
>> me think that had a large impact.
>>> Any thoughts are appreciated.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Ed
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