Help! Hard to idrntify noises in France!

[waltraud]

Dear all,

am in South of France with my trusty 83 dg westy.

Of late wehave done some hundreds of miles and it has developed a noise at the rear end. It is a rotational sound, low frequency, not metallic or clonky . It ahs the characteristics of getting worse when turning left I think and tends to stop or is less audible when accelerating or braking. It does this when in neutral so seems unlikely to be the g-box. I've also thought that if it was CV joints then unlikely to stop due to braking?

SO----having jacked up either side at the rear both wheels turn freely except that the NS wheel has some play at 3 and 6 o clock. I did replace the rear bearings this year and asked the garage locally to tighten them up to the usual 350 ft lb.....perhaps they left them only as tight as I had got them?

If I have done say 800 miles with bearings a bit lose in housings is it possible that getting them tightened up properly will be ok or could there have ben damage done to bearings or housing? I will get a new bearing in any case from Serial Kombi here in France in case of failure on way home.

I would appreciate your thoughts . Have not yet checked front bearings and no funny noises from CVs but I suppose it could be?? THANKS for any help.

[CJH]

I had a very similar problem while I was away touring Scotland. When I took it to a garage he jacked it up and there was a good INCH of play in the wheel when rocking it top to bottom. After removing the split pin he was able to remove the hub nut BY HAND. It had apparently not been tightened properly and he thought maybe the rear face of the hub nut had worn as a result. He tightened it properly with the biggest torque wrench I've ever seen, put a new split pin in, and it was fine to get me home. The wheel bearing may have been damaged, but as yet there are no outward signs.

[sarran1955]

Hello,

You're welcome to call by here on your way back.

Be it for work or a 'peace of mind' check...

Cordialement,

[waltraud]

Merci, thanks v much, we are on a bit of a schedule but your kind offer is very reassuring and I'll get in touch if we're passing by. Where abouts are you Saran? Best regards,

Tim

uploadfromtaptalk1376994377855.jpg

[waltraud]

Further thoughts....

I popped into a Vw garage/dealer in St Gardens who had a quick look and said the rear nearside bearing was ok and not too much play..... So I check ed the front. N/s bearing was too tight and had no play at all so I cleaned it out regreased then put back together. No joy......

Then I looked at the front wheels and am pretty certain that when the ns wheel is straight ahead, the os one is pointing outwards slightly. Could this (presumably tracking) being out lead to a low level but quite audible humming sound especially when turning into corners? The harder I turn the more volume and vibration through steering wheel... Not really bad but notably not usual.

Context of recent work is new ns rear bearing and backplate and new ns top n bottom ball joints. I wonder if track rod ends were not set up properly?....... Runs lovely on lpg mind you......... Pooh

[sarran1955]

Hello,

You have pm

Cordialement,

[waltraud]

Due to "Vanxieties" (trademark) about possible expensive or troublesome problems Accross France I took Waltraud back to my local Vw main dealer in sw France. They were extremely helpful, came for a drive and v quickly diagnosed Reulements (bearings) on the front off side. I then remembered that two years ago or less I had replaced both front bearings but with different makes. The guy fitting them said that unless I could be sure which collars fitted which bearings (they were not in boxes) that it was possible for them to wear prematurely as the bearings are fitted to mat h their housings...... Last summer had to replace the front nearside so it now seems to make sense to me that it would be the front off side. Man in Vw said they would get us home but I do have some spares including bearings coming in the post tomorrow from Serial Kombi in France. Hopefully his diagnosis was right!

[waltraud]

Oh dear! Mr vw diagnosed ffont off sid bearing. Havng replaced it i still have a noise on turni g primarily but also when the road cambers. It had seemed to be fr os but clearly not! Could these symptoms come from a slack rear near side hub nut? The vw man said my reR beRing tightnezx was ok BUT it does have 3 and 9 o clock play as well as 12 ans 6 o clock , the latter i would expect a bit of. .....:?:

[sarran1955]

Hello,

Looks like a keyboard problem to me....

I'll mow the camping lawn tomorrow....

Cordialement,

[waltraud]

This is no laughing matter sir......mind you, having got to Limoges for overnight stop my mate who was travelling by bay has just had a plug blob out and fouling the threads.....anyone know where you can get helicoil inserts a France.....he is waiting to hear from insurers Footman James.

[oorwullie]

i'll be heading down that way in 3 weeks if you're still there then.

[sarran1955]

This is no laughing matter sir......mind you, having got to Limoges for overnight stop my mate who was travelling by bay has just had a plug blob out and fouling the threads.....anyone know where you can get helicoil inserts a France.....he is waiting to hear from insurers Footman James.

Awaiting bay.. helicoil ready..

Cordialement,

[waltraud]

Back home, many thanks Sarran for encouragement!!. Turned out be nearside front bearing. Van ran very well on french Lpg with my new Blos 'carb' thanks to Andrew at Campershack.

[waltraud]

Autopsy.

Front nesr side early bearing carrier, outer one, rotating in hub.

Hav cleaned out and fittd new with locktite 270. BUT i really need a new early hub! Are hub and disk seperate?

Anyone have a decent early hub?

[Evokiola]

sorry cant help with the the above, glad you made it too.
While on the "big ups" I placed an order with Brickwerks on Wednesday at 3pm and it was in France delivered mid morning on Friday. They even sent the package before I had paid the extra for speedy shipping. Thanks to all involved in that.
I like the "vanxieties" call, ours was a smile and "thats campervanning" for both the amazing and the not so amazing things that happened on our adventure across the channel