Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:01:08 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: 2 thumbs up - John's Repair - Bellingham [Was: Rear wheel
noise... can't be good 1000 km from home :(]
In-Reply-To: <52617599.5050102@williamsitconsulting.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
PS ..if you don't mind ..........what was that half hour shop labor fee
...like 45 bucks ?
On 10/18/2013 10:53 AM, Steve Williams wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for the advice everyone. It made sense to get the wheel off the
> ground to get a closer look. First thing this morning I went onto
> Roadhaus.com and found "John's Repair" in Bellingham. Kudos to them! .
> They pulled my van into the shop right away and put it on a hoist.
> Turns out it was just the dreaded "wheel nut" that needs to be torqued
> to crazy high numbers... the wheel bearing was loose enough to make me
> very happy I had stopped and investigated. Not dangerous, but loose
> enough to accelerate wearing.
>
> I cannot believe the symptoms I was seeing was wheel bearing... only
> under load? But whatever, the noise is gone... and it's the only thing
> that was done (I witnessed the work... just out of curiousity, not out
> of suspicion).
>
> 1/2 hour shop rate was the only charge and I've got peace of mind for
> the 1000 km drive home. I'll have to deal with it over the winter as
> the face of the hub is slightly worn but I'm hoping to do maintenance on
> the CV joints this winter so I'll be tearing that all apart, brakes, CV,
> wheel bearing.
>
> Now to figure out if I add that crazy big socket to my tool box... but
> what can one use for a cheater bar that will put enough torque on the
> nut to actually be able to do anything on the road? But if I knew what
> the problem was & had the socket, I guess I could go to any garage and
> have them tighten it up... decisions decisions!
>
> Thanks for everyone's input!
>
> Cheers,
> Steve W.
>
> On 10/17/2013 11:09 PM, Steve Williams wrote:
>> 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.
>
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