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clunking noise at front wheel when backing up
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gene l
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:38 pm    Post subject: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

When backing up, a clunking noise comes from the right front wheel while turning. 85 Vanagon.
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?Waldo?
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:54 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

Lugs are tight?
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gene l
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:05 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

yes
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VicVan
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:50 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

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.
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dabaron
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:34 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

grab a hold of the radius rod and see if it moves.
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Vanagon Nut
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:48 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

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.
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gene l
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 1:41 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

Will try tonight after work.
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Vanagon Nut
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 1:43 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

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.
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vanis13
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 7:06 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

Glad you asked this question....I've wanted to ask it for a while but I forget Smile

Exact same symptoms - only when backing up.

Have replaced ALL bushings with Urathane

Have 15" allow after market wheels
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dabaron
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:05 am    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

vanis13 wrote:
Glad you asked this question....I've wanted to ask it for a while but I forget Smile

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?
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Franklinstower
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:12 am    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

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.
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gene l
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:34 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

no
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DanHoug
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:09 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

in addition to the radius rod bushings, make sure your caliper mounting bolts are tight!
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:29 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

dabaron wrote:
vanis13 wrote:
Glad you asked this question....I've wanted to ask it for a while but I forget Smile

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
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ragnarhairybreeks
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:19 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

One more suggestion, very outside chance. Check the brake caliper carrier to hub bolts.

Alistair
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IdahoDoug
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:42 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

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.
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gene l
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 1:25 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

Checked all of above, nothing yet.
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?Waldo?
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 1:31 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

Post the video you made.
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Bassyaks
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:57 pm    Post subject: Re: clunking noise at front wheel when backing up Reply with quote

The radius rod washer is hitting the subframe, the bushing is shot
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