Date: Wed, 25 May 2016 19:38:35 -0500
Reply-To: KI4TLF <ki4tlf@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: KI4TLF <ki4tlf@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear-wheel clunk (possibly) identified
In-Reply-To: <CAF9Ro-ZpjFPmnTb_w_-+H+z4OKdPMBRvu-p1wsUO5RPebSNACg@mail.gmail.com>
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Mine had rear swing arm bushing going bad, specially the left side. After turning to the right at speed, 25+ MPH, I'd get the clunking going over bumps until I turned left at those speeds or higher again.
What was happening was the lower swing arm would shift inboard, then the end of the axle would clunk over bumps. Once I turned right, it would shift out, then no more clunking.
Replaced both lower swing arms bushing and no more problems turning either way. :-)
It took several months to find it driving it daily. Finally found out what was happen after the CV boot tore and I went to replace it. Found the swing arm would move in and out over an inch.
GregM
'84 GL
1.9l 4-speed
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Vincent Dow
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 4:54 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Rear-wheel clunk (possibly) identified
Stick tranny.
I was just under there again, videoing the chamber of the trailing-arm, occupied by the outboard CV joint.
Looking for something that could be striking.
The Bentley manual doesn't show any washers, thrust washers... any of that stuff being mentioned in the samba thread.
I'm going to keep reading, thinking. Tomorrow it goes on a lift so at least can inspect the CV and grease.
On Wed, May 25, 2016 at 5:22 PM, Dan Lamb <vanagongramps@gmail.com> wrote:
> Auto or stick tranny? Axle lengths are different left and right on auto.
> Someone may have used stick axles or swapped sides? Ones too long?
>
> Dan Lamb
>
> > On May 25, 2016, at 12:34 PM, Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >
> > I have puzzled over the same clunk in my '86 for years. It is on
> > the passenger side though. It is quite a heavy sound and feeling.
> > not like anything I could imagine in the brakes making. I'm not
> > sure mine goes
> away
> > if I swerve to load/unload the suspension. Mine went away for a
> > while after I replaced the outer CV on that side. Maybe couple
> > years/couple thousand miles. I haven't read all the samba article
> > linked but what I have read is interesting. IIRC, it does
> > sound/feel like what happens if you slide the axle in/out.
> > Edward
> >
> > On Wed, May 25, 2016 at 2:01 PM, Vincent Dow
> > <ianvincentdow@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Since last summer I've been experiencing a puzzling, intermittent
> >> clunk from the driver's side rear.
> >>
> >> I had the rear brakes serviced by a shop in L.A. There were a bunch
> >> of issues with that, but one of them was a very audible TOCK TOCK
> >> TOCK TOCK sound... the frequency of which corresponded to wheel speed.
> >>
> >> I only heard this sound when the van was warmed up from highway driving.
> >> And then starting from a stop, or climbing a grade.
> >>
> >> My girlfriend came across this thread that deals with exactly what
> >> I
> have:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=387993&postdays=0&pos
> torder=asc&highlight=axle++noise+fit&start=0&sid=cb5f768858f53fec27c75
> 037b66837cf
> >>
> >> Seems to indicate an overlong CV-stub axle... that bunches up (I
> >> guess)
> and
> >> hits the hub. An absence of thrust washer between the hub and the
> >> CV
> might
> >> be the cause.
> >>
> >> Is anyone familiar with the thrust washer as spacer at the CV and hub?
> >> Tomorrow going to bring it up to Carrera motors and put it on the lift.
> May
> >> just get the CVs greased while I'm at it - I leave cross country on
> friday!
> >>
> >> vinnie
> >>
>