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Date:         Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:00:34 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject:      Re: 2 thumbs up - John's Repair - Bellingham [Was: Rear wheel
              noise... can't be good 1000 km from home :(]
Comments: To: Steve Williams <steve@WILLIAMSITCONSULTING.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <52617599.5050102@williamsitconsulting.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

it would be worth carrying that socket perhaps , in 3/4 in drive .. then if some shop didn't that size ...

after that you need a really good breaker bar, and at least a 3 foot cheater bar gets to be a bit much to haul around for something you shouldn't need anyway.

there is a hammer type tool... it's a harderened flat plate that fits over the nut , is about 8 inches long, and is designed to be hammered on until you get that nut loose.

I have seen them so tight though ....almost nothing would get the nut loosened... had to heat it first with a torch. Worst case I ever had was ....the nut galled the whole way off unscrewing it, ruining the nut and the stub axle. And I was careful too.

glad you got 'er fixed ! they stood on the end of a 3 1/2 to 4 foot cheater bar ?

Them suckers is on there tight !

S.

On 10/18/2013 10:53 AM, Steve Williams wrote: > Hi, > > Thanks for the advice everyone. It made sense to get the wheel off the > ground to get a closer look. First thing this morning I went onto > Roadhaus.com and found "John's Repair" in Bellingham. Kudos to them! . > They pulled my van into the shop right away and put it on a hoist. > Turns out it was just the dreaded "wheel nut" that needs to be torqued > to crazy high numbers... the wheel bearing was loose enough to make me > very happy I had stopped and investigated. Not dangerous, but loose > enough to accelerate wearing. > > I cannot believe the symptoms I was seeing was wheel bearing... only > under load? But whatever, the noise is gone... and it's the only thing > that was done (I witnessed the work... just out of curiousity, not out > of suspicion). > > 1/2 hour shop rate was the only charge and I've got peace of mind for > the 1000 km drive home. I'll have to deal with it over the winter as > the face of the hub is slightly worn but I'm hoping to do maintenance on > the CV joints this winter so I'll be tearing that all apart, brakes, CV, > wheel bearing. > > Now to figure out if I add that crazy big socket to my tool box... but > what can one use for a cheater bar that will put enough torque on the > nut to actually be able to do anything on the road? But if I knew what > the problem was & had the socket, I guess I could go to any garage and > have them tighten it up... decisions decisions! > > Thanks for everyone's input! > > Cheers, > Steve W. > > On 10/17/2013 11:09 PM, Steve Williams wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I'm on a bit of a road trip (2500 km so far), currently in Washington >> State (Bellingham). I'm 1000 km from home still (Calgary, AB). I've >> pulled more sustained hills on this trip than ever before, even going up >> to the "Windy Ridge" lookout on Mt. St. Helens. >> >> Not that it's very relevant, but I drive very gently, never "flooring" >> the gas pedal only pressing down on the gas the while the vehicle will >> accelerate. If it won't accelerate/sustain, I let it slow down & grab a >> lower gear. I keep the "working" RPM's in the 2500-3500 rpm range. >> >> I have a very strange noise coming from the rear drivers side wheel. It >> almost sounds like squeaking rubber, it's hard to tell because it >> doesn't happen until 45 km/hr. My gut" feeling is that it's got to be a >> CV joint, but I thought I'd get some list wisdom. >> >> It only happens under "medium" acceleration. When the noise starts, >> backing off on the throttle or flooring the throttle will make it go >> away. I had lots of time to experiment on the Mt. St. Helens road, 16 >> km uphill in 2nd or 3rd gear (steepish, windy road). It either subsides >> or the road noise overpowers the noise as the speed increases above 55 >> km/hr. >> >> Happens between 40 & 55 km/hr with some sensitivity to going around >> corners. It seems to be quieter when making a left corner, though the >> size of parking lots that I can find to test in limits this test a bit. >> Does **not** happen in neutral or when going down a hill. >> >> I have been monitoring it all day (I had a meeting in Bellingham that I >> had to get to). The hub is not getting hot driving sustained highway >> speeds, so I don't think it's wheel bearing. >> >> Additionally, when coasting (engine off, neutral) in the parking lot on >> a gentle downhill in a parking lot (with me walking beside the vehicle), >> it sounds like there is something rubbing on the brake drum for part of >> the revolution of the wheel. This noise doesn't happen in reverse. >> Part of me wants to blame the brakes for this one... >> >> Once, when I parked & forgot to put the parking brake on & it rolled >> ahead, I got a little "tick tick tick" out of the wheel for about every >> 6 inches it rolled ahead. >> >> I have tightened all the lug nuts. >> >> I'm in Bellingham, Washington with a bit of a flexible schedule... I am >> going to call around tomorrow (Friday) and see if anyone can have a look >> at it. I'm pretty sure I'm limited to what I can do with the tool box >> that I have, and my spare alternator isn't going to help in this >> case! lol. >> >> What's the list wisdom on what this might be? >> >> Thanks, >> Steve W. >


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