Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 19:39:28 -0800
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: cv, wheel bearings, or both?
In-Reply-To: <50E617FB.1070805@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Actually ...
checking that the CV joint screws are tight would be part of a normal
and conmprehensive Reglar Service.
the idea isn't to drive it until something fails to function ..
it's to service, lube, adjust , and inspect proactively ..
'if' the owner of the van wants good long term reliable servicethat is.
'somebody' should check those screws every once in a great while.
Usually they are fine long term ..
but having them break off and and/or fall out is not a good way to find
out they are not tight.
they should be checked like say ..once every two years. ..or every....
say 15K miles. \
I thought it might be in the Maintenance Schedules in the back of Bentley ..
but all they have is check manual trans oil level and inspect CV jonint
boots.
'It's less expensive to care for a Vanagon than to fix it when it breaks' ..
or stated another way ..
'Fixing a Vanagon when it breaks it just a terrible way to take care of
one."
scott
On 1/3/2013 3:44 PM, Mike B wrote:
> 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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