Chris, you wrote:
> >         I've got an '82 Vanagon diesel which tonight on the way home
started making
> a knocking sound from the back end when the accelerator is pushed on - not
> very loud, but consistent, and follows the speed of the vehicle, not the
> engine (ie: different gears don't change the sound).  I can't tell you if
it
> hums  or knocks at highway speed - all that I can hear then is the engine.
> At about 30 MPH is where I hear the knocking.  If I let off the
accelerator,
> it goes away

Stick with your first guess, I will be IT IS the CV joint(s) believe me, we
went through exactly the same thing with everyone telling us they don't make
that heavy banging noise but after we insisted they be replaced, guess what,
no more noise!  Good luck.

John & Wendy
Cape Cod, MA

'85 Westfalia "S-Cape"
'98 Passat "The Doo-Dah Machine"