I have bad rear bearings - you'll hear em if you put it up and turn the wheels by hand, but I found it even easier to just park on a slight incline and roll a few feet with your head out the window - VERY easy to hear the bearings. That's how I first noticed mine...if you can hear them like that...they're pretty bad. Does cause some higher-speed whining noises too, on the HWY.

But...you talk about the "rocking back into gear" - I'd check your front transmission mount (this was a manual, right?) and see what shape the rubber is in - it can definitely cause that rocking, and also causes some harmonic noises through the stick when the tranny is just a smidge out of wack.

-Ben

> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:56:13 -0700
> From: musomuso@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: CV joint 'indicators'?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> It's also worth putting the rear up and turning each wheel by hand.
> 
> I have no experience with a bad/going bad rear wheel bearing
> sound/symptoms but checking for that may be something to consider.
> 
> Neil.
> 
> On Thu, Apr 17, 2008 at 8:38 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> > Thanks,
> >
> >   Correction:
> >    It IS vehicle speed related as well as RPM-related, I guess.
> >   There is a specific 'range' (probably about 1500-3500rpm)  where the noise
> >  is more pronounced as I accelerate away...It's just difficult to say
> >  exactly, but it sort of sounds like the suspension goes 'all-steel' for a
> >  few seconds as the Van rocks back onto the right rear accelerating away from
> >  a stop..That description may be a bit 'Harsh'...it's not really that loud
> >  (yet?) but more of a faint.."RRrr, Rrr,, rrr..rr..r..." as I pull out onto
> >  busy highways...I have not noticed it going uphill on twisty roads or
> >  crawling along backcountry trails.
> >
> >   A quiet large paved lot is a good idea, I'll  try that..
> >
> >   Don Hanson
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >  From: "neil N" <musomuso@gmail.com>
> >  To: "Don Hanson" <dhanson@gorge.net>
> >  Cc: <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
> >  Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 8:28 AM
> >  Subject: Re: CV joint 'indicators'?
> >
> >
> >  > Try driving in circles CCW and CW in a parking lot. Get a helper to
> >  > listen out the PS window to compare notes. (which side is it coming
> >  > from?)
> >  >
> >  > CV sounds should be related to vehicle speed, not RPM's. If it's
> >  > related to RPM's, then it is likely something else.
> >  >
> >  > Neil.
> >  >
> >  > On Thu, Apr 17, 2008 at 8:12 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> >  > > Hi all,
> >  > >  Maybe I'm hearing things...
> >  > >
> >  > >   But, it seems when I accelerate away from a stop while turning left,
> >  my 84
> >  > >  5sp manual makes a little extra noise from the rear area.  It's an
> >  > >  RPM-related noise that increases in "tempo" as the RPMs increase.  It
> >  seems
> >  > >  to diminish, then go away as I get moving, and it only seems to occur
> >  when
> >  > >  I'm accelerating more vigorously than I usually do..  I may be
> >  imagining
> >  > >  that this sound seems to be slowly getting louder..There has always,
> >  since
> >  > >  I've had the van, been a little noise..I've thought it normal for
> >  > >  vanagons...but now, since nothing has broken with my van for a few
> >  months..I
> >  > >  am thinking it's "time"   I have not ever serviced the CV joints, but I
> >  have
> >  > >  checked the wheel bearings and re-freshed the transmission oil plus
> >  checked
> >  > >  brake shoes, etc..
> >  > >   Can anyone suggest a simple way to check on the condition of my CV
> >  joints,
> >  > >  like maybe jack up and run in gear, or tug on the wheel or whatever?
> >  > >   Or should I just drive the sucker till it breaks and not worry so
> >  much?
> >  > >
> >  > >   Don Hanson
> >  > >
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >
> >  > --
> >  > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
> >  >
> >  > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> >  > http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
> 
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

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