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Date:         Sun, 28 Apr 2013 09:35:39 -0400
Reply-To:     Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Undoing the big nut on the upper ball joint - who knows how?
Comments: To: Dan Andrews <devilish.dan@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <000301ce4408$144d7210$3ce85630$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

If you think it might be the speedo cable, its quite easy to disconnect this and pull it out of the hub so a short drive with it disconnected should eliminate this possibility or confirm it.

Steve

On Apr 28, 2013, at 8:01 AM, Dan Andrews wrote:

> Hi Dennis, Howard, Dan, Mike, List Members, > > Thanks for the all of the suggestions - I spent the day entertaining my > little girl today - so no work got done on the van . Happily it's a matter > of a new wheel nuts and pulling it of the stands to get it rolling - I > consider it in 'hot standby' mode... > > I'm going to do a quick summary of the suggestions which have been raised > (to make sure I've considered them all, and add notes in relation to each > > Disconnecting the brake hose/break pipe: This is not really something I > want to do, unless unavoidable. However I don't believe that they would > make this a necessary part of the wheel bearing replacement process. I have > no concerns about performing the task - it's one of the few jobs which > translates well from two decades of servicing motorbikes - I just don't want > to do it as one of the first things I did when I got the van was to flush > the brakes (and yes, the nipples were in a bad way). > > Howard's very kind offer of coming to visit: Thanks Howard - however I'm in > Sydney, Australia. Probably a little further then you had in mind :) > > It doesn't sound like a wheel bearing - they usually make a rumbling noise: > I consider this to be really valuable information (thank you). > > Brake pad shudder: Perhaps - I don't think so. The pads and rotor are all > within spec and seem to be in good condition. There are no noticeable > defects in the rotor or the pads. Certainly pressing lightly on the brake > pedal doesn't stop the clicking - in fact it gets louder as brake pressure > is increased and load moves forward. However I'll have a closer look at > this, look for anything which could be catching on the rotor and check for > distortion. > > Could be something stuck in the tire: I haven't noticed anything, however > certainly a good lead - I'll give the tire a twice over in good light. > > Could be a dry/stuck/etc speedo cable: As the speedo cable rotates at the > same speed as the hubcap, I hadn't considered this. Certainly the speedo > cable would seem to be in good order. However I'll give this a look over, > ensure its sufficiently lubed, and check clearance with some engineer's > blue. > > A large box wrench to remove the nut: (I believe that's what we call a ring > spanner) - I had considered this - however as I need to torque it when I'm > doing it back up, I really need something which attaches to a 1/2" drive. > > Could be the CV joints: Perhaps - they were actually the first thing I > replaced when I got the van last year. I used the cheap Chinese ones rather > the the Febi's - they were less the a quarter of the price (and I had to > really see whether there was a difference for myself - let's face it - they > don't work very hard compared to other CV joints). In one terrible moment > late at night, I accidently dropped a ball out of one of the new ones onto > my workshop floor - this ended up with me having to completely dismantle > clean, oil, and re-assemble the new joint (which was no easy task - compared > to the old one it was really tight) before packing it. Obviously I had > concerns about the longevity of this joint (although I never recorded which > one it was). However my doubts that I would be able to hear it from the > driver's seat remain - certainly I can barely hear the engine. Perhaps > someone can offer an opinion about this? > > As for undoing the big nut to remove the brake hose bracket - it would seem > an unavoidable task when changing the wheel bearing (unless the bracket is > removed the calliper can't be swung back and tied off with wire. > > Thanks again for your help. Any other suggestions will be well received. > > Regards, > > -Dan > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > Dennis Haynes > Sent: Sunday, 28 April 2013 8:35 AM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Undoing the big nut on the upper ball joint - who knows how? > > If he is taking things a part enough to replace the front wheel bearings, > filling and bleeding brakes should not be that much of an issue. Of course > rusted fittings and frozen bleeder valves can make that a whole new > adventure onto itself. It may be due for a brake fluid change anyway. > However I think there may some other issues as that noise description does > not sound like a usual bearing failure noise. Unfortunately when a person > decides to be a mechanic without training the school of hard knocks and > busted knuckles will take over. > > Just trying to help! > > Dennis > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > raceingcajun > Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 2:38 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Undoing the big nut on the upper ball joint - who knows how? > > Hi Dennis, > > I don't think I would recommend opening the brake system to a "novas" > technicition (said with all respect)! I think the bigger picture here is, > what is actually wrong with the Van. The noise as described does not sound > like a wheel bearing to me. You would think a wheel bearing would be more of > a roar increasing with speed to a certain point, not a "Click - Click" on > slowing down. > "Dan", you don't say where you are located. I would be glad to take a > look see, if your close enough. Please state your general location, and I'm > sure myself or another list member would be glad to give you a little > helpful nudge in the right direction! > > Howard > > "In the land of fast cars, good looking Women, and the worlds best Gumbo, > not to mention a couple of Volkswagens held together with bailing wire, > "duck tape", and a few cuss words (in Cajun French of course)"


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