Date:         Fri, 29 May 1998 01:05:11 -0700
Reply-To:     Sara <Sara@FREEHOLDER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Sara <Sara@FREEHOLDER.COM>
Subject:      rear wheel noise
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

First, I'm using my wife's email because my computer is down.

Our '81 Westie developed a problem today.  It started as a click -- click
-- click noise coming from the back.  It got worse on acceleration, and was
tire rotation speed related, not engine speed related.  It quickly got
worse, going from barely audible to easily heard.

It was coming from the driver's side, so I put that side up on a jackstand.
 When we rotate the wheel, we only hear the click rarely, and it's faint.
If I grab the top and bottom of the tire, I can move it in and out a small
amount.

The CV joints were replaced about 6000 miles and 6 months ago.  Does this
sound like the wheel bearing?  It's an automatic.  Is there anything in the
tranny that could give us these symptoms?  If it is the wheel bearing, my
manuals make it sound like a major job to replace.  What's involved there?

Thanks,

Bill Nolan