John Muir's(the guy that wrote the first VW repair for idiots book)
description of the bad wheel bearing sound beats them all(may he rest
in peace).  He called it a "ballsy rumble".  CV joints to me sound
more like a clicking and or popping noise, especially on Front wheel
drive vehicles where you can massage the outer joints with the
turning CW and CCW on a smooth quiet parking lot.

YMMV

DM&FS

At 10:56 AM 4/17/2008, neil N wrote:

>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/