thumping noise right front of EVC 1997

[DKR]

My 1997 EVC runs well. This just started-

After getting up to speed (~45 MPH) & I then when I back off on the gas pedal, I get a pretty good thump, thump, thump sound at right front.

If I hit the gas again, thump stops.

If I back off the gas slowly, it may or may not start thumping.

Sound is only on the right front side of the EVC.

Turning corner - right or left, sharp or shallow or even running in a circle (either direction) , no noise, which is where/when I expect a CV joint to start making noise...

So - a bad CV joint? Something else? Anything specific to look for when I crawl under this weekend?

[VAEV1993]

Yeah. We had a very similar experience with our 93 weekender and it was an axle. For whatever my input may be worth!

Good luck to ya.
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1993 Weekender - Hula
2002 Golf TDI
2017 Golf Alltrack

[Abscate]

Classic driveshaft. If you like the EV, go for OEM axles - the build quality on axles is all over the map.
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.ssS!

[DKR]

Thank you for the replies.

I suspected as much - an entire axle and CV setup is ~$160 here in Ak. Double that for the labor.

Anyone swap one of these out or is it best left to he folks with the tools and experience?

[Abscate]

Its bolt and torque - no way I would pay labor rates for hand tool work..
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.ssS!

[Gruppe B]

Don't you have to remove the lower balljoint to pull out the CV axle on the Eurovan? Not too difficult but it's more of a hassle than say a Vanagon.

[gakali]

Check all your lug nuts asap.
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Why do it? Because you can.

1999 Eurovan
2003 A4 Avant 1.8T Quattro
1992 W201 190e 2.3 Mercedes
2006 W220 S600 V12 Twin Turbo 5.5 Mercedes

[DKR]

Well, I'll be...

I checked the tire bolts on the right rear - squeaky tight. Checked the right front - and was able to turn each bolt about a 1/4 turn before hitting 'squeaky' tight.

After that, made a high speed run and - no thumping.

Thanks to gakali I learned a valuable lesson. I had thought loose lugs nuts, but I'd had the tires rotated less than 300 kM ago.

Lesson? Always - if you can - check someone else's work, esp on tires.

Normally, here in Alaska, the tire monkeys run the air hammer to the point that it is nearly impossible to remove a lug nut - and I have had a couple of times where they have stripped off the lug..... A constant source of great annoyance when you ask to have the tire bolts hand torqued (and I'm willing to pay extra) for that extra effort

and then you hear the Brraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapppp of the air hammer on your autos tires. Gah!

The shop that did the work makes a big deal (even in their ads) of hand tightening lug nuts. Must have been a little light on this one tire.

Bottom line - it pays to ask -

THANK YOU SAMBA and very much thank you gakali

you saved me a trip to the shop and likely 100's of bucks.

The lesson re-learned - priceless.....

[Abscate]

[Vänä White]

I have this same issue, but mine came on after Downshifting going downhill (I know really stupid in an automatic) it’s on the driver side, thump thump changes with speed and stays when in neutral. Transmission is still shifting fine but my guess so far is ring and pinion in my differential. What did I do to my beloved Vänä White! Please help!

[Abscate]