This is a shot in the dark, but check your bump stops = to see if they are shiny (i.e. bottoming out)- also check your shock = mounts to make sure the bushings are intact and the shocks aren't = tweaked/broken.  I have seen broken shock mounts create this sort = of racket on other cars...

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.C= OM]On Behalf
> Of W. Silva
> Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 9:31 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Banging noise from left (?) rear = wheel-help needed
>
>
> We are supposed to be leaving for MD in the = morning, doesn't
> look like it's
> going to happen.  We have been = experiencing a banging noise in what we
> thought was the left rear wheel off and on for = about 6
> months.  We have had
> the rear brake drum turned because it was a = little out of
> round and the
> noise went away only to come back a month later = - worse.
> Out of desperation last Friday we ordered a = complete axle shaft to be
> shipped second day from Calif.  Received = it today, the
> mechanic took the old
> one out and said he couldn't find anything = wrong with it and
> that's probably
> a good thing because the fools send the wrong = side, they sent
> the right
> side.  He is putting it back together and = pulling the right
> side just to
> check.  I hope he finds it there because = that only leaves the
> wheel bearings
> and that's a MAJOR job and it wouldn't be ready = in time.  I
> don't know what
> else to check, any ideas?  It sounds like = someone hitting the
> wheel hub with
> a hammer, is less obvious at high speeds, gets = louder as you
> slow down to a
> stop (without touching the brakes) then softer = when you apply
> the gas (I
> guess when there is torque on the shaft).  = Applying the
> brakes does not
> change the noise in any way.  If you have = any insight on this
> one, please
> let us know.
>