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begood56vw Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2006 Posts: 327
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Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2025 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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| To all that replied to my question, i want to thank you all since i figured out the problem. It was the rear IRS bearing cap bolts that had loosen up grinding on the inside of the rotor. I first discovered the issue on the rear driver side. I fixed it then i decided to check the rear passenger and to my surprise, they had also come loose. I removed the bolts, cleaned them then added some blue locktite. All is good now. Thank you all. |
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begood56vw Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2006 Posts: 327
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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| Brian_e wrote: |
Jack up the whole bus, and go around to each wheel spinning them. That will narrow it down to which corner is making the noise.
If its a front then remove the caliper, and spin it again. If the noise is gone you know its a brake issue. If its still there, its a wheel bearing issue. Since you have rear disks, test it the same way in the rear.
Brian |
Sounds like a great idea. I will perform the task, this coming weekend and hopefully located the issue. Thank you very much. |
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Brian_e  Samba Member

Joined: July 28, 2009 Posts: 4164 Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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Jack up the whole bus, and go around to each wheel spinning them. That will narrow it down to which corner is making the noise.
If its a front then remove the caliper, and spin it again. If the noise is gone you know its a brake issue. If its still there, its a wheel bearing issue. Since you have rear disks, test it the same way in the rear.
Brian _________________ So more or less the lazier and stupider you want to be, the nicer quality parts you need to buy.
-Modok
Narrowed beams, Drop adjustable spring plates, Bus disk brake and IRS kits.
www.type-emotorsports.com
Type E Engine Parts and Supplies
https://type-emotorsports.com/collections/engine-parts |
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begood56vw Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2006 Posts: 327
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 8:19 am Post subject: Re: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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| tpinthepack wrote: |
I had a similar issue like this, and I removed the Brake Pads and put this Chap Stick sort of stuff on the back side of the pad where it touches the caliper piston, and my noise went away. The pads were griding on the back, not on the rotor side. This stuff comes in a super-sized Chap Stick looking tube.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-loctite-parts/disc-bra....Catch_All |
Thank you very much. I order the stick, and I will definitely give it a try. |
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tpinthepack Samba Member

Joined: July 11, 2004 Posts: 854 Location: clearwater,florida
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 3:00 am Post subject: Re: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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I had a similar issue like this, and I removed the Brake Pads and put this Chap Stick sort of stuff on the back side of the pad where it touches the caliper piston, and my noise went away. The pads were griding on the back, not on the rotor side. This stuff comes in a super-sized Chap Stick looking tube.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-loctite-parts/disc-bra....Catch_All _________________ TP in the Pack (I am a cyclist)
1968 Manx N.O.S. w/ Barrett Chassis
1960 Single Cab 1914 w/ 40 DLRA's
1990 Vanagon DOKA
1972 Super Beetle
1979 Super Beetle Convertible
2011 Porsche Cayenne |
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begood56vw Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2006 Posts: 327
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2025 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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| BarryL wrote: |
| You could raise the rear and spin the wheels by hand to see if it is a CV joint. |
Thank you. Honestly, that would be a blessing if it’s one of the CVs. I will definitely try that. Thank you. |
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BarryL  Samba Member

Joined: November 01, 2004 Posts: 15406 Location: Casa de Oro, California
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2025 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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| You could raise the rear and spin the wheels by hand to see if it is a CV joint. |
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begood56vw Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2006 Posts: 327
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2025 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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| Clara wrote: |
my first thought was gear oil.
one thing you can do is if it happens at low speeds, have a friend walk next to the bus and see if you can find if it is left or right, front or back.
You already looked at the front brakes, and if it didn;t make noises with spinning front wheels I doubt it's the front bearings.
so is it the back?
do the brakes work right?
So the noise happens or gets worse when you step on the brakes?
does it make noises with hand brake?
I had a clip fall off the rear brake shoe for the hand brake lever, and it made bad noises. The noises got worse after stepping on the brake or using the hand brake.
It was pretty clear where the problem was with the walk next to test.
The drum came off and it was clear what the issue was.
hope that helps. |
Thank you very much for your reply. I converted the rear to IRS and I'm thinking maybe a CV, rear disc brake pads or (crossing my fingers it's not) in the transmission which only has about 2K miles on it. Within the last several years, I have changed the transmission gear oil several times just to make sure it always had clean oil but now I'm in a bubble.
The noise, at first was audible when I stepped on the brake pedal, but recently it's while driving without any pedal depression.
I will drive it again and pull the parking brake lever to see if the noise goes away or make it worse. Thank you for replying. |
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Clara  Samba Member

Joined: June 14, 2003 Posts: 12650
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2025 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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my first thought was gear oil.
one thing you can do is if it happens at low speeds, have a friend walk next to the bus and see if you can find if it is left or right, front or back.
You already looked at the front brakes, and if it didn;t make noises with spinning front wheels I doubt it's the front bearings.
so is it the back?
do the brakes work right?
So the noise happens or gets worse when you step on the brakes?
does it make noises with hand brake?
I had a clip fall off the rear brake shoe for the hand brake lever, and it made bad noises. The noises got worse after stepping on the brake or using the hand brake.
It was pretty clear where the problem was with the walk next to test.
The drum came off and it was clear what the issue was.
hope that helps. _________________ The Obsolete Air-Cooled Documentation Project http://oacdp.org/ |
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begood56vw Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2006 Posts: 327
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2025 11:56 am Post subject: HELP with grinding/growling noise in my MANGO. |
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I am asking for help with my bus which started making a god-awful noise.
How it began:
My bus was a barn find on 2008 in the Santa Cruz Mountains during a large hillside fire. During the next 15 years, I got it running with the best parts I could afford.
I have a Wagenwest beam, flipped drop spindles, Airkewld wildwood slotted and drilled front and rear brakes, IRS rear with BENCO transmission and 2020cc Anibal Chico engine.
I have enjoyed the bus which I've driven for about 2k miles and just recently it began an awful grinding/growling noise when I stepped on the brake pedal. I took off the front wheels and the pads have at least 80% of pads. I removed the pads, and sanded them down, I also checked the wheel bearings and they looked okay.
I called Airkweld and Pete was sure it was my master cylinder so I took his advised and got his kit. Once it arrived, I bled the master cylinder and installed it. I also made sure there was proper slack in the MC pushrod.
I repacked the front bearings with new grease and reinstalled them. Got the bus all together and as soon as I backed up and starting to go forward, the noise is now audible as I'm driving and not stepping on the brakes. WTH
The noise is very loud inside my bus and I'm afraid I might cause more damage trying to figure out what the problem. Can anyone guide me to what I should do?
I got new front brake pads and I'm also considering getting new wheel bearings just to isolate the front end. Any advised would be greatly appreciated. |
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