knocking / tapping - drive shaft / gearbox?

Post by **mankymusic** » 29 Apr 2008, 16:45

1.9DG with autobox

its making a knocking noise which seems in time with the wheel going round, it only does it in gear, not in neutral and it speeds up / down with the van speed rather than engine speed.
It only seems to happen when I accelerate, put it in neutral whilst moving or take foot of accelerator and the noise stops.
seems to be louder when on a hill.

checked the tire's for nails ect, i think its something to do with the drive shaft or gearbox, any ideas?

cheers!

Post by **windysurfer** » 29 Apr 2008, 17:29

cv joints

Mine does exactly the same. If you dip the clutch it goes away. Only happeneds now and again and only under load

Post by **mankymusic** » 29 Apr 2008, 18:52

windysurferuk wrote:cv joints

Mine does exactly the same. If you dip the clutch it goes away. Only happeneds now and again and only under load

so if it happens "now and again" do I need to get it sorted now or can I leave it till I'm a bit more well off?

Post by **chuckle-bus-tom** » 29 Apr 2008, 19:24

so if it happens "now and again" do I need to get it sorted now or can I leave it till I'm a bit more well off?

It is worth doing as a seized CV joint is going to cost you money fuel wise by putting more strain on the engine and a loose CV could bust out on you with any pressure (e.g. 3 hours at 60mph!)

I just got a 4 pack from just kampers delivered for £144. It's an easy job with the right tools and there are really easy to follow instructions in the Volks World Camper & Bus "how to keep your bus alive" magazine.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 30 Apr 2008, 22:58

Also check that shaft is firmly fixed at wheel end. I had a similar knock and one day pulled away at a junction - only I didn't. No drive! Bolts can and do shear.

My good friend Merc Doctor (found me a spare merc rim yet?) advises that its a good rule on big runs to keep a spare, fully assembled shaft and stub in a plastic bag under the back seat. Not a quick job on the side of the road admittedly, but if a shaft goes, you won't be going anywhere and a spare 'ready to go' can be handy.

Could well be a bone dry joint (see if it rattles if you move it in or out) - a clean and repack with grease often shuts up a noisy CV for a LONG while - depends how worn it is. Otherwise check for loose bolts.

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 01 May 2008, 07:34

As a stop gap, you can squirt some normal engine oil into the joint, which I have found cures the clonking instantly. I have done this by using a old fashioned oil can, with a metal spout. This can be either squeezed down between the drive shaft, and rubber boot ( may need to cut off a clip), or, as you will be replacing boot and joint in future, just pierce a small hole and squirt into the joint by pushing nozzle through.
I have kept a knackered CV joint going like this for around a year, when it should have been replaced. Oil is a better lubricant for a CV joint, but you need to oil it every other week, or just wait for the knocking to come back.
This fix can take just a few minutes.

Simon.

Post by **SplendiferousII** » 01 May 2008, 09:10

Mine knocks like hell on very steep hills. It has done for about 5 years now. I dont mind.

Post by **cozmik** » 01 May 2008, 13:33

I had this same problem and it was the CV joint. I searched on "CV joint" on here and found loads of good advice from previous posts. Best advice was to get underneath and move the CVJ back and forth so that the grease redistributes around inside the rubber boot. That's what I did and it worked a treat, no knocking since.

Post by **mankymusic** » 02 May 2008, 14:06

as if by magic its stopped!
I did nothing, it just stopped making the noise, how strange!
I've just ordered a couple of spare CV joints to keep in the van........ just in case.
I assume that if a joint does "go" it just stops the van from moving and shouldn't cause any other damage?

thanks for all the info.