Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:04:57 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear wheel noise... can't be good 1000 km from home :(
In-Reply-To: <5260D07C.40803@williamsitconsulting.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Rubbing-scrapping type noises from the wheels are usually brake parts or the
drums rubbing on the backing plates (rust build up). Due to the normal play
in the bearings these noises can be affected by load changes and speed.
Stick parking brake levers, (on the shoes) or binding cable assemblies are
very common causes of drum brake grief. I would begin there.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Steve Williams
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 2:09 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Rear wheel noise... can't be good 1000 km from home :(
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.
