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gene l Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 136 Location: LOS OSOS,CA.
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:38 pm Post subject: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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When backing up, a clunking noise comes from the right front wheel while turning. 85 Vanagon. |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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Lugs are tight? |
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gene l Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 136 Location: LOS OSOS,CA.
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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yes |
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VicVan Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015 Posts: 1826 Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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Happened to me when I put bigger wheels on. One of the wheel weights was getting loose and knocking on the radius arm, only when turning and reversing. _________________ '90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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dabaron Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018 Posts: 2558 Location: Philly, mang
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:34 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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grab a hold of the radius rod and see if it moves. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo
BiWerks Design, LLC |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10347 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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dabaron wrote: |
grab a hold of the radius rod and see if it moves. |
My first thought; worn radius rod bushings allowing rod to hit frame. This happened on my '81 and the tell tale "clunk" would be really obvious while parallel parking.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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gene l Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 136 Location: LOS OSOS,CA.
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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Will try tonight after work. |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10347 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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Not sure if raising van body or wheel off ground will help allow one to test radius rod movement.
Crazy thought: secure a Hero cam or other video recorder, re create the noise, watch video?
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3081 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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Glad you asked this question....I've wanted to ask it for a while but I forget
Exact same symptoms - only when backing up.
Have replaced ALL bushings with Urathane
Have 15" allow after market wheels _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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dabaron Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018 Posts: 2558 Location: Philly, mang
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:05 am Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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vanis13 wrote: |
Glad you asked this question....I've wanted to ask it for a while but I forget
Exact same symptoms - only when backing up.
Have replaced ALL bushings with Urathane
Have 15" allow after market wheels |
are the wheels tight? did you get an alignment after you replaced the bushings? _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo
BiWerks Design, LLC |
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Franklinstower Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2006 Posts: 1892 Location: PNW
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:12 am Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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I had something similar. Do you by chance have an aftermarket sway bar? My Addco bar was hitting a coil spring on one side only during backing. Rounding off the corner of the sway bar where the end link attaches solved my issue. _________________ '89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug |
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gene l Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 136 Location: LOS OSOS,CA.
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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no |
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DanHoug Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 4715 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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in addition to the radius rod bushings, make sure your caliper mounting bolts are tight! _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3081 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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dabaron wrote: |
vanis13 wrote: |
Glad you asked this question....I've wanted to ask it for a while but I forget
Exact same symptoms - only when backing up.
Have replaced ALL bushings with Urathane
Have 15" allow after market wheels |
are the wheels tight? did you get an alignment after you replaced the bushings? |
Yes to all that..... Aligned several times the 20k mi with this quirky issue _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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ragnarhairybreeks Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2009 Posts: 1888 Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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One more suggestion, very outside chance. Check the brake caliper carrier to hub bolts.
Alistair _________________ '86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:42 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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Next time it happens, notice if your foot is on the brake - even lightly. I have owned cars where the brake pads would shift when stopping in reverse as they get shoved to the other end of their available movement. Stopping going forward has them pinned in that direction. I've often suspected it can happen to only one caliper if that one was replaced with a non OEM, or even if one single brake pad was slightly too small from a tiny manufacturing error.
The camera is a good suggestion. We bought a new Subaru many years ago that had a wobble in the drivetrain. Dealer folks couldn't feel it. Regional rep drove it when he was in town. Nope - all good. Finally our young son suggested we put the GoPro underhood. I painted two dowels bright yellow and taped one to an engine part, the other to a shock tower. Put sharpie reference marks on them. Took it for a drive and whenever I felt the wobble I'd tap the horn.
Reviewing the video, you'd see the wobble start, then hear a horn honk. The dealer took the car back and gave us another. Great dealer here. Anyhow, the video is a remarkable tool and a good suggestion. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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gene l Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 136 Location: LOS OSOS,CA.
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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 1:25 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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Checked all of above, nothing yet. |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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Post the video you made. |
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Bassyaks Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2010 Posts: 1135 Location: S.E. Connetitcut
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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up |
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The radius rod washer is hitting the subframe, the bushing is shot |
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