Date:         Mon, 1 Jun 1998 22:50:25 -0700
Reply-To:     "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Subject:      Clacking Noise while braking
Comments: To: vanagon List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

    In my endless pursuit of the source of errant
noises/vibrations/reverberations, I have another.  This occurs only
while braking, especially down hill, and when i drive over small
bumps/pot holes...like the little chatter bumps you get at a stop sign.
I get a very distinct clacking noise when I hit the bumps.  It has
happened once or twice while not braking, but when I use the breaks, it
happens more often than not now.  It is coming from the undercarriage
area.  This sound is relatively new....about the last 900 miles, during
which time it has gone from barely auidable to now and hard to produce
to very audible and easy to reproduce..

The rear shocks are nearly new KYB, which I am not so happy with,
although the price is hard to argue with.  Can the shocks be topping out
and causing the clacking under braking as the rear suspension unloads
under braking and then I hit the bumps (plus the downhill factor...)?

I also notice that there is about a 1/3" separation on my left rear
transmission mount between the rubber and the steel plate that bolts up
against the rubber.  I can shake the motor/transaxle...in the
mounts...the mounts seem a little soft when it comes to movement in the
initial range of flex that the mounts provide...such that they may allow
for high-frequency shaking in this range rather than a lot of movement
in terms of distance.  I can feel the shaking while driving over small
bumps (but it is not contemporaneous with the clacking sound).  Any
chance this could cause a flutter-like feeling in the drive train?
Didn't think so.

Finally....the archives are down.  I have new motor mounts i'd like to
install...the nuts accessible inside the engine compartment look pretty
tough to reach.  Can I replace the mounts just by dropping the engine
carrier...or do you have to remove lots of stuff to get to the inside
nuts?
steve

1990 syncro westfalia