The axles turn with the wheels ie at all times, but when you coast you load
them in a similar manner to when you are putting power through them.  When
you lift in gear, you are momentarily allowing them to be in a no-load
state.

What do you feel when you go underneath and try to turn the axles with the
handbrake on and the gearshift in neutral?

On Jan 12, 2008 4:52 PM, BJ Feddish <bfeddish@netreach.net> wrote:

> I drove the van again this evening and I could not hear the noise. I
> looked
> under the van, check the CV bolts, jacked up the rear, shook the tires,
> shook the axles, etc. nothing.  There is a large consensus that it could
> be
> the CV joints. Since the noise goes away when I step on the clutch could
> that still be the problem? Aren't they still turning whether the clutch is
> in or out? Also, since the noise is the same "tempo" whether I'm in 3rd or
> 4th gear I guess I can take the engine having problems out of the
> equation?
>
> Thanks,
> Bryan
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/