Author |
Message |
airkooledchris Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 2700
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject: clunk loose rattle sound from front over hard bumps |
|
|
Im a good 9 hours from home currently, and what started the other day as a very faint clunk has turned into a bit more of a harsh clunk sound when I drive over a big crack or bump in the road.
the sound has a loose sound to it, like something is rattling and going to fall off. I tried checking what I could from under the front and while I can't find anything loose, the ball joints look pretty well shot (the boots are totally torn up.)
is this the likely culprit, or are there any other bits I should check that could fail catastrophically?
do ball joints fail in a major fall apart kind of way, or can I take it easy and get it home tomorrow without worrying about them exploding or something?
It's crazy that in a single trip it could go from no sounds at all, to light and then heavy clunks over every bump. it's unnerving. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
nodrenim Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006 Posts: 843 Location: Dobson, North Carolina
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 3:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I would get those ball joints checked out ASAP. Nine hours is a long trip, and a lot could go wrong, very wrong. AAA is my best friend, is it yours too? If you have smooth roads, that could be a help, but personally, I'd get it checked and repaired. It would definitely be cheaper than replacing your bus, or maybe yourself. Good Luck! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Have a really close look at the shock absorber mount bolts, top and bottom. Bad ball joints often make the steering really loose and wandery long before they fail outright. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
airkooledchris Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 2700
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
thanks for the tips guys. I have the family in a hotel so I can work on it at my leisure and I think I found the issue.
the lower bolt holding the caliper to the backing plate on the passenger side was almost totally backed out.
Last edited by airkooledchris on Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
airkooledchris wrote: |
would smearing grease on them help in any way at this point? |
Likely can't make it any worse, depends how long they've been open and if they've gotten dry or have alot of grit in them. A ball joint often groans or squeaks loudly in it's death throws opposed to a rattle. A loose shock amplifies every crack, line, bump and pebble on the road into anything from a light thump to a full on ball peen on the floor sound. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
airkooledchris Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 2700
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
we posted at the same time, so it looks funny quoting me saying something that isn't there now.
but thank you again for the tip, it settled my mind and allowed me to more calmly go through everything looking for something out of place.
I don't mind these things when close to home, but loaded to the gills hundreds of miles from home with family on board makes my head spin to where I tend to gloss over the easy stuff. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Chris - not preaching here but use the torque wrench on it when you get home. Per Bentley -
Caliper to Knuckle 1971-72 is 40-43 Ft lbs
Caliper to Knuckle 1973 on is 116 Ft lbs _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
|
Back to top |
|
|
airkooledchris Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 2700
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I appreciate the heads up, will check when I arrive. I gave it a nice snug tightening with my breaker bar for now...
just got back from a quick test drive (figured that was the issue) and did confirm the clunk noise is completely gone. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Keeby Swaggz Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2011 Posts: 433 Location: Clarkston, WA
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
crazy, you're the second person in about a week who's had this problem... _________________ you can find me under a Dub...
'73 Transporter 1700 "Papa Smurf"
'74 Westy Weekender 1800 out and apart "Great Punkin"
'70 Std. Bug 13B Rotary pending
'72 Karmann Ghia coupe "Cindy Lou Who" |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Desertbusman Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2005 Posts: 14655 Location: Arizona
|
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Keeby Swaggz wrote: |
crazy, you're the second person in about a week who's had this problem... |
The problem of not having the bolts torqued to spec and also possibly not correctly assembled. Service manuals do serve a purpose. No sympathy for the results of mickey mouse work. Obviously not saying the PO did but rather whoever did the work prior. _________________ 71 Superbug
71 Westy |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|