its my understanding from reading more than hands on that a clunk and
wiggle associated with front wheel is due to ball joints.

monte

On Apr 29, 2006, at 8:42 PM, John Rodgers wrote:

Check the wheel for play by jacking the vehicle up, then grabbing the
top and bottom of the wheel in question and rock it back and forth. If
there is any play at all, see if tightening the nut helps. If not, then
pull the wheel and whatever else, clean and inspect with a good light
and magnifying glass,  the bearings and the races for wear - grooves
and/or pitting. If found, replace the races and the bearings. The races
can be removed with a flat tip punch and new ones installed using the
old race, a block of wood, and a heavy hammer.

DO NOT use the old axle nuts. Get new ones. These nuts are a special
locking type and once used lose they safety margin.

BTW, usually, but not always, a front wheel bearing develops a growl or
whine when it is worn. Not a  clunk. I suppose it's possible for it to
clunk if  you have worn the thing beyond the growl stage, or, if the
axle nut is not sufficiently tight.

Good luck,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

robert shawn feller wrote:
> I can notice a very slight play/clunk when I wiggle either front wheel
> what
> is most likely a wheel bearing. Its not tire rods/steering.
>
>
>
> On a vanagon is this a simple need for a repack or is any play a
> definite
> need for a new bearing? There is no sound what so ever coming from the
> bearing.
>
>
>
> Sahwn
>
>
>

"I long ago lost a hound, a bay horse, and a turtle dove, and am still
on their trail. Many are the travelers I have spoken to concerning
them, describing their tracks and what calls they answered to. I have
met one or two who had heard the hound, and the tramp of the horse, and
even seen the dove disappear behind a cloud, and they seemed as anxious
to recover them as if they had lost them themselves." - henry thoreau