Clatter Clatter!

[Mudlark]

Been experiencing an increasing amount of driveline clatter and got down to taking the prop out yesterday as I thought one of its UJ's may be failing.

Went out for a drive in the evening and without the prop the clatter is different but just as bad and I'm guessing a rear driveshaft UJ is the the most likely candidate now? It was probably the prop was amplifying the vibration further back under certain conditions but now its been eliminated we are hearing the true source?

Worst in fourth gear and at around 1500rpm; noisy under engine load, almost quiet when not.

What do you think ?

[HarryMann]

If it's an inner CVJ you should be able to get under and waggle the shaft to prove/disprove. Also look at the gbox output flange as you do so.. the outer CVJs likewise though a bit less easy to detect play, but less likely as well. Might help if up on some ramps

Also might be a good idea to look at the engine and gbox mounts, with a jemmy to hand.
Have the rear wheels or drums been off lately?

[Mudlark]

No wheels/drums have not been off at all as far as I know ....

[syncrosimon]

If it is a constant rumbling could be the wheel bearings.

I would jack a rear wheel up in the air, and give each rear wheel a tug and a spin and see what happens. Should be up to 2mm of play on the rim. If the bearing is fecked it will slopp around all over the place.

If the bearings are ok, try still with a wheel up in the air, as Clive has said, moving the half shaft. Should slide up and down, or in and out between the wheel and the gearbox about 4cm. This should be a perfectly smooth operation. Spin the wheel and listen for graunching. Check that they are done up ok. My outer CV bolts came undone in Nice remember. The shaft should have no play in it what-so-ever.

[Mudlark]

Seems I have been suffering from a combination of general wear and tear and abuse at my own hand

Clive heard me whack the exhaust a few weeks ago in Exmoor and while I don't recall doing anything too extreme I must also have sat the van on the protection bars at some point or other.

Upshot is; the exhaust was touching, the bars were pushed up and the gearbox was touching them; and one of the rear wheel bearings was well worn and rumbling. Most of the din was only occurring when on the move and with the engine under load.

The combination of rattles and vibration coming from different sources while stationary and moving; under load and not, was quite mystifying; having driven back from the Isle of Wight one time with a badly failing UJ on the prop I was convinced the noise I was hearing was the same rattle. Goes to show how wrong you can be!

So we have straightened her out and done both rear wheel bearings and i'm off to Cornwall on Friday for a road test ... thanks for the input; Ill let you know whether its all cured!

[HarryMann]

Ah, good one Mark...

Just on the wheel bearings... you know that if the bearing carriers are worn there can still be a fair bit of play when rocked top to bottom. Shouldn't be any appreciable rocked side-to-side (left to right)... this is very common, seems the inner bearing outer race moves in the carrier, even though it has to be driven inot the housing (ovalled).

[Mudlark]

In that case I could probably expect more noise on the move or a premature fail of the new bearing? I have top admit that I have not had the time to do any of this myself; ahead of leaving for Cornwall it just had to get done so I have entrusted the work to our local who does a lot of work for me. (Where's a fingers crossed icon when you need one ?) ah ... there you go!

[HarryMann]

No Mark, the bearings won't fail, but its just worth knowing (and checking) how much play now exists, for future reference. You'll then know if it's getting worse. It seems rare that the bearings actually 'fail' and your mechanic might confirm that they didn't seem 'shot' (or maybe they were).

[syncrosimon]

I had a clatter like that come to think of it Mark, a stone got wedged between the oil filter, the exhaust and the protection bars and made a bit of a noise. Took some getting out as well.

Glad to hear its sorted, enjoy Cornwall.

[richard17777]

Greetings all, I have a 2wd 1.6 JX TD which has just been rebuilt (head, rings and main baring but not touched the water or fuel pump)
The unit is back in and running but still has a chatter - was like that since we had it but had hoped that with the rebuild it would go away...
The mechanic that fitted the engine suggested the chatter was the water pump but its definitely coming from from the front of the engine. at standstill and on closer inspection it sounds like the gearbox bell housing area. If i depress the clutch its still there and the note is unchanged so unlikely to be the thrust bearing (?).
is there a likely candidate in the gearbox for this random chatter?

Also, the bus has been stood for 18 months while i was working on the body and now the gearstick is stiff.
Come to think of it. Does anyone recommend a vw gearbox specialist in Manchester/northwest?

Thanks,

[syncropaddy]

Woo Hoo three years to the day for a thread revival ......

You rebuilt the engine but didnt do the water pump ???? Why?

Aidan is your gearbox guy and he is in north Wales