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khalimadeath Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 768 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 10:10 am Post subject: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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So ive had a noise for a while, 4+ months. I only started to really notice it a few months ago then realized it had been there for a while. The noise is a humming low rumbling noise. So the first thing that popped into my mind was wheel bearing, the more I drove the bus the more I thought that may not be the issue.
Symtoms:
Humming when in 3rd and 4th gear going strait, the noise goes away when I turn left in these conditions, it remains when I turn right. The noise also goes away when let off the throttle in any direction at any speed, off throttle = no noise. It is not noticeable in 2nd and 1st gear.
So this is what made me hesitant to check the wheel bearings. The CV joints are freshly packed and installed as of 3k miles ago. The were inspected by me when I took them out and I re installed them correctly. They did not appear to be worn in any way.
Thoughts?
If transmission, if I cannot find a place locally, whats a good place to order from? _________________ The United States Constitution
(c) 1787. All Rights Reserved
1970 Bus Westfalia
1964 Kombi |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51121 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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Sure sounds like a wheel bearing, jack it up and spin the LH wheel for a listen, wiggle it as well.
Also check the LF, sometimes noises come from deceptive places. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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check the lug nuts and the drum for cracks. It may be that or as Mark suggested, wheel bearings. Were it me I would also check my fluid level in the trans and the bolts that hold the CV joints on. Normally a differential ring gear howl doesn't change much with turns but it does change with load. CV, wheel bearings, lug nuts, cracked drums change with load and turning. _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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khalimadeath Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 768 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 11:02 pm Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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I suppose I can do that again, when I adjusted the brakes about a month ago all the wheels spun smoothly before I had the brakes adjusted to friction.. The reason I hesitated to think it was a wheel bearing is because I inspected and greased all of them in June.. although I guess its hard to tell if one of the rollers is going out.. _________________ The United States Constitution
(c) 1787. All Rights Reserved
1970 Bus Westfalia
1964 Kombi |
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Cap10323 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2016 Posts: 604 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 1:27 am Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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Sounds like a wheel bearing to me. I recently replaced a rear wheel bearing that was causing a humming/rumbling that I was convinced was rear differential in my Subaru Legacy. I assumed diff because as soon as I let off the gas it went away.
It was the wheel bearing... I went out and bought a replacement diff and everything. _________________ -Ian
'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I |
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khalimadeath Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 768 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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Cap10323 wrote: |
Sounds like a wheel bearing to me. I recently replaced a rear wheel bearing that was causing a humming/rumbling that I was convinced was rear differential in my Subaru Legacy. I assumed diff because as soon as I let off the gas it went away.
It was the wheel bearing... I went out and bought a replacement diff and everything. |
Well thats promising, is the best way to check to jack up each corner and spin the wheel? _________________ The United States Constitution
(c) 1787. All Rights Reserved
1970 Bus Westfalia
1964 Kombi |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13389 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 10:24 am Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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khalimadeath wrote: |
Cap10323 wrote: |
Sounds like a wheel bearing to me. I recently replaced a rear wheel bearing that was causing a humming/rumbling that I was convinced was rear differential in my Subaru Legacy. I assumed diff because as soon as I let off the gas it went away.
It was the wheel bearing... I went out and bought a replacement diff and everything. |
Well thats promising, is the best way to check to jack up each corner and spin the wheel? |
If it were me, I'd unhook the CV joints at the stub axle, then spin the each rear wheel with my hand. Then, place the other hand on the trailing arm or bearing housing. If you have a rough bearing, you'll feel it on those parts as you spin it.
You may be able to feel the rough bearing with the axle hooked up. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
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Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
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hazetguy Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2001 Posts: 10773 Location: iT StiNgeD iTseLf tO dEAd
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 12:03 pm Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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khalimadeath wrote: |
Humming when in 3rd and 4th gear going strait, the noise goes away when I turn left in these conditions, it remains when I turn right. The noise also goes away when let off the throttle in any direction at any speed, off throttle = no noise. It is not noticeable in 2nd and 1st gear.
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i had this issue with a freshly rebuilt transmission. it was a bad bearing in the trans. sorry, i can't remember which one it was. have you checked your gear oil level lately? _________________ thebucket: I invested in hoodride, now DBD won't return my call?
hazetguy: invested?
thebucket: Yeah Haze, its where people put money into a company in hopes of a return on their money |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50336
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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You may be able to detect a failing wheel bearing because it will give off a bit more heat than a good bearing. You would probably have to make a highway run of several miles and then coast to a stop with minimal use of the brakes to detect this. |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6980 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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I found I could hear my wheel bearing going bad while cornering, everybody has a different story to tell.
If transaxle work/replacement is needed I'd use Arizona Transaxle. They even ship. _________________ __________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build |
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khalimadeath Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 768 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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wcfvw69 wrote: |
khalimadeath wrote: |
Cap10323 wrote: |
Sounds like a wheel bearing to me. I recently replaced a rear wheel bearing that was causing a humming/rumbling that I was convinced was rear differential in my Subaru Legacy. I assumed diff because as soon as I let off the gas it went away.
It was the wheel bearing... I went out and bought a replacement diff and everything. |
Well thats promising, is the best way to check to jack up each corner and spin the wheel? |
If it were me, I'd unhook the CV joints at the stub axle, then spin the each rear wheel with my hand. Then, place the other hand on the trailing arm or bearing housing. If you have a rough bearing, you'll feel it on those parts as you spin it.
You may be able to feel the rough bearing with the axle hooked up. |
I suppose I will try to listen closely with the axels attached first.. It could be bad CV too. Diagnosing is difficult with this. _________________ The United States Constitution
(c) 1787. All Rights Reserved
1970 Bus Westfalia
1964 Kombi |
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khalimadeath Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 768 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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hazetguy wrote: |
khalimadeath wrote: |
Humming when in 3rd and 4th gear going strait, the noise goes away when I turn left in these conditions, it remains when I turn right. The noise also goes away when let off the throttle in any direction at any speed, off throttle = no noise. It is not noticeable in 2nd and 1st gear.
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i had this issue with a freshly rebuilt transmission. it was a bad bearing in the trans. sorry, i can't remember which one it was. have you checked your gear oil level lately? |
Changed recently. _________________ The United States Constitution
(c) 1787. All Rights Reserved
1970 Bus Westfalia
1964 Kombi |
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djdh68dlux Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2005 Posts: 770 Location: I.E., SoCal
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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Make sure the big axle nuts are torqued down tight enough. Years ago, mine started with the humming sound, thought it was a bearing. Then one day I end up stranded as I could hear the transmission spinning, but no power to the wheels. Immediately thought my trans was screwed, then realized the axles were turning, just not the drum. The axle nut had loosened itself and the splines in the drum that ride on the axle had been stripped/sheared smooth. Had to buy a new drum and bought one of these: http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D7045
Problem solved!
Good luck, hope you find the answer you're looking for. _________________ 1968 Deluxe "Clipper L" Type 2
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khalimadeath Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 768 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:52 am Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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I torqued them about 4k miles ago and installed the cotter pin, I suppose I can check again tho. _________________ The United States Constitution
(c) 1787. All Rights Reserved
1970 Bus Westfalia
1964 Kombi |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50336
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 1:18 pm Post subject: Re: Differential failure or wheel bearing?? |
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khalimadeath wrote: |
I torqued them about 4k miles ago and installed the cotter pin, I suppose I can check again tho. |
Get hold of some Vanagon nuts and then use the Vanagon spec. Higher initial torque by 50% without the maximum possible torque once the cotter pin holes are aligned being any higher. |
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