>Yep, sounds like busted belts in at least one of the front tires,
>usually damage from hitting a big
>pothole or a curb.  I had this in one tire and when going very slow
>the steering wheel would jump
>every time that spot hit the ground.  Cheaper passenger-rated tires
>are damaged easily like this.
>Mount the spare on the front passenger side and see if the problem disappears.
>-Hans
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Leo Lee" <leo0365@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 12:39 AM
>Subject: Steering wheel or brake pulsing???
>
>>The problem began while I got out of the freeway, slow down on the
>>local and noticed that the
>>steering wheel pulse/shake to left side of the vanagon. The pulse
>>rhythm appears to follow the
>>turning of the wheel, the faster the wheel turns, the faster the
>>steering wheel shake. I jack up
>>the front end, spining the front wheels, the driver side appeared
>>to drag at some point in every
>>turn. I shake the wheel, there appears to be a little loose. I then
>>took off the wheel and
>>tighthen the lock nut one eight of a turn, put the wheel back and
>>test drove. The problem got
>>worse. I check the history of the van, the brake disc was
>>resurfaced once 50,000 ago, the mileage
>>of the van is about 120,000, I thaught I had a warped brake disc,
>>and it is probably about time to
>>replace the brake disc anywhere. After replacing the brake disc,
>>repack wheel bearings and the new
>>pads, to my surprise, the problem still exist. I checked the front
>>end carefully, I found two
>>problems. 1. the rubber boot of the
>>lower ball joint was broken, and there was a very small play when I
>>pushed the wheel upward. I
>>think this problem probably not the cause of the steering wheel
>>shaking. 2. I found a small
>>section on the front tire on the passenger side cave in a little in
>>the middle, and become uneven.
>>I have never seen a deformed tire before, not sure this will cause
>>the van to shake. I let some
>>air out of the tire (reduce about 7 psi) and test drive again. I
>>did not feel any change at all. I
>>am not sure what else to look for. I would appreciate any
>>suggestion to the problems before I
>>spend another $200 to replace the front tires.
>>
>>Leo, 1991 multivan 120,000 miles

A bent wheel could also cause this, but my money would bew on the
tire. I have had several fail.

A warped brake rotor would cause the drag one per turn of the wheel,
but though I have driven cars with warped rotors, there is little if
any pulsing at the wheel (but plenty in the pedal).
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut

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