Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 17:40:20 -0700
Reply-To: zmaninco@YAHOO.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zoran Mladen <zmaninco@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: cv, wheel bearings, or both?
In-Reply-To: <50E617FB.1070805@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I purchased a Welty with a "bad auto tranny" a few years ago. Turned out to be a catastrophic failure of the cv joint - the cage broke. I suspect it knocked for a long time and then finally gave out.
So yes, it can definitely happen...
Sent from my iPad
On Jan 3, 2013, at 16:44, Mike B <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> 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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