TheSamba.com :: View topic - Urgent help need

Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:51 pm

:cry: earlier today my westy did something bad. While I was attempting a take off from a stop sign, barely rollin forward when she made a loud thud/ bang kinda noise that wasn't the engine and wouldn't move in first anymore so I tried second just because with a lot of rpm's it would at least roll forward. It wasn't the clutch cuz I could start it rite back up again in 1st with the clutch engaged after I shut her down to inspect the problem. I think it could be the rear passenger side outer cv joint(or inner aswell) due to the fact that its been making a slightly quieter "ka- tunk" noise about once every wheel rotation for a month or so now. But I think if one side is bad the other would still get it moving? I'm hoping it isn't the tranny or worse, the drive shaft! This westy is my daily driver and I'm starting my second week at work tomorrow and need my bus to get there. Fast info is duely appreciated. Thanks, Cody.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:55 pm

Get to your FLAPS and get a rebuilt axle pronto. The axle that moves the easiest, is the one that the differential puts the power to. If you busted a CV joint, that's the axle that'll spin. Peace!

Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:56 pm

Looks like you allready know where to look, if a cv goes the bus wont move cuz the diff slips, so you gotta have bothe axels atached to the wheels in order to move.

good luck,

Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:02 pm

Set the brake, pop off the rear hub caps and start the engine in gear, are either of the big nuts on the ends of the axles spinning?

Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:13 pm

Quote: I'm hoping it isn't the tranny or worse, the drive shaft!

The drive shafts are the solid steel bar that run between the CV joints. You probably mean the trans input shaft. It most likely is not your trans. The trans in a 1979 from the factory is an 091 which is very strong. They wear out and get noisy when used for daily drivers over maybe 200,000 miles. When that happens they also start popping out of gear or reverse goes out and you aren't describing that.

You can pull the e-brake. chock the wheels, and let it idle in gear. Most likely if you shine a light up onto the cv joints you will see one side spinning. That is the side that failed. If neither side is spinning while it is in gear then it is the trans. You might even have someone sit in it and press the brakes just to be 100% sure it doesn't take off or roll on you if whatever is broken catches.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:25 pm

Go with Busdaddy first, If the hub is OK then go to CV joints. If you follow SGKent's advice you will not know if the problem is the hub or the CV joint. Just go one step at a time as you trouble shoot so that you don't end up just throwing parts at it. The couple of minutes you spend correctly trouble shooting you will get back in both time and money later.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:47 pm

Quote: if the problem is the hub or the CV joint.

His handle is "79Camper." Yes - that is good advice but how do you break a forged steel hub on a 1979 bay? Early bays with CAST hubs in the drums break, that is why VW went to forged steel hubs. Jeep CJ7's have a similar hub and it takes about 150 to 200 HP rock climbing to break one. That is why the 600HP CJ's use Summers Brothers axles.

Troubleshooting tip on a LATE bay - if both CV bodies are turning and the tire isn't then the problem is outbound of the CV. When the CV bolts come loose they flop around so that can be ruled out too. Don't need to pull the hubcap on a late bay with a forged steel hub unless the outer CV is also turning. On a late bay the weak spot is loose bolts and worn out CV joints. On an early bus it is equally common for the cast drum to break.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:19 pm

So I put her in gear and checked the drive shaft and it was spinning while the wheel stood still so looks like a trip to advanced for cv joints! Thanks for the imput, Cody

Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:34 pm

SGKent wrote: Quote: if the problem is the hub or the CV joint.

His handle is "79Camper." Yes - that is good advice but how do you break a forged steel hub on a 1979 bay?

Ok, I admit that I missed his handle. And everything breaks. It is unlikely but still possible according to McGrugers (sp?) observation.

McGruger observed that Murphy was an optimist. :lol:

Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:41 pm

Mountain Minstrel wrote: SGKent wrote: Quote: if the problem is the hub or the CV joint.

His handle is "79Camper." Yes - that is good advice but how do you break a forged steel hub on a 1979 bay?

Ok, I admit that I missed his handle. And everything breaks. It is unlikely but still possible according to McGrugers (sp?) observation.

McGruger observed that Murphy was an optimist. :lol:
I agree, take 2 minutes and look at the hub nuts, CV's don't break completely very often either.

Nothing worse than dropping a wad of cash, hopping and skipping back from the FLAPS, busting a nut to change the part and discovering the old one was still doing it's thing OK and you really need something else.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:43 pm

Quote: So I put her in gear and checked the drive shaft and it was spinning while the wheel stood still so looks like a trip to advanced for cv joints! Thanks for the imput, Cody

Cody - was the outside CV joint sitting still and the axle spinning in it?

Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:54 pm

The drive shaft was turning but the boot wasn't so I suspect the hub is fine and last time I had her up on my uncles lift that same cvj was dry looking while the opposite was covered in grease so I inspected the boot which was fine and along with the "ka-tunk" I figured rapid wear was inevitable without the money to even afford grease to repack the joint. So I got a job and the money now its time to maintain my precious westy.
-Cody

Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:57 pm

if the boot wasn't turning then the CV body, which is bolted to the flange wasn't turning either. Def the CV joint unless the axle popped out of the CV.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:43 pm

79camper wrote: So I got a job and the money now its time to maintain my precious westy.
-Cody

Well, thats a start! Now you need the time inserted into that equation, and your good to go. :wink:

READ the Bentley!