John,
I tried your test today and the good news is there seems to be no problem
with the CVs.

I checked my motor mounts and they seem to be OK and now after my oil pump
and front crank seal replacement the engine seems to wobble even less than
before. As you all know the mechanic had to take off the pulley wheels and
some muffler & exhaust pipes to access the oil pump and crank seal area. He
must have tightened things down even better than before. He usually checks
everything and does a few freebies like tightening things up upon
reassembly.

However, the mystery, faint rumble was there before this work was done.

I'll keep checking and let everyone know the results of my search for
perfection.

William Polowniak
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE

> Try this test.
>
> Get in a really big level parking lot.  Start to drive in a circle and
steer
> it tighter and tighter until the steering wheel is against the stops.After
> going one way, turn it into the other way.
>
> (1)A bad or dying power steering pump will whine like crazy, and (2) a
dying
> CV will begin to knock very audibly. If neither (they are not related)
> happens, just drive the thing. It's prol'ly not worrying over until it
gets
> worse.
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> developtrust wrote:
>
> > Just went for a drive at 10 PM when it is quiet on our street. The sound
> > seems to be most prominent at 35 MPH. When I cruise in neutral it does
not
> > seem to happen, BUT the sound is so faint that it is hard to tell when
and
> > under what conditions it occurs. maybe I am too much of a perfectionist.
> >
> > I guess I will just have to wait for the sound to mature (or immature.)
> >
> > I will keep checking.
> >
> > William