Update:

Thanks to everyone who offered replies. Since my previous messag I've put
about another 50 miles on the van.  SOund is becomming more regular and
sounding more like a clack than a thump now.  And sounding like possibly
from the left side as well as teh right. I'm leaning toward bad CV joints
or perhaps bad grease.  It's possible I didn't get sufficient
grease "inside" the joints before instaling the axles. I've rotated the
wheels by hand while jacked up and don't hear anything unusual. I think my
next course of action will be to remove the axles and regrease the joints
and see what happens.

Jim Davis

On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 17:27:32 -0700, Scott Daniel - Turbovans
<scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:

>that's pretty odd about the brake shoes.
>Never had a problem.
>I adjust 'em out quite thoroughly ...
>like keep adding clicks on the adjuster until the drum just fits over,
>then yank on the parking brake handle to jiggle the shoes into position ..
>then I can get a few more clicks out of the adjuster. Then yank/giggle
>again.
>I do that a few times until the shoes are very well adjusted 'out' .
>and they can't jump around on the backing plate or anything like that if
>they're assembled right ..
>as drum brakes go, they're pretty good I think. Darn good actually.
>
>I'm with CV joints, rear wheel bearings, or tire , or all of the above. (
>AOA ) .
>
>I have  seen CV joints act up *only* after hours of driving a few times.
>
>and I think that is briliant marketing .......misleading, but what a
clever
>name  - OEM Brand.
>Genuine OEM Rear Axles.
>
>and those things are so cheap they scare me.
>you know, one entire axle with boots and everything cost less than ONE new
>german made Lobro CV Joint by itself  ?
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 4:58 PM
>Subject: Re: Thumping Noise - Wheel CV Joint Bearing?
>
>
>I had brand new joints fail after only a few hundred miles. They were
>made in a country whose name cannot be associated with inferior parts
>on this list. Check yours. The brand name was (get this) OEM. Just
>because it is new doesn't mean it's any good.
>
>Brake shoes can drive you crazy if not properly adjusted. You should
>check that too. It's probably going to be one of the two. In my case,
>I had loosely adjusted shoes falling against the backing plates. It
>took months for my shop, me and the tire store to determine that
>problem.
>
>Jim
>
>On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 6:18 PM, Jim Davis <SyncroHead@aol.com> wrote:
>> Hi friends!
>>
>> My 1984 Westy is making a new noise. I've searched the archives but
>> haven't found an answer and am hoping for some help here.
>>
>> I have a mild "thumping" noise that seems to be coming from the
>> right/rear wheel area. The noise is sort of a low pitch thumping,
>> not a clicking or a clacking. Sounds sort as if something is rubbing.
>>
>> The noise frequency moves up and down with vehicle speed.
>>
>> It makes the noise only when I accelerate or have reasonable power
>> applied. In other words, when the wheel/axle is under load. Otherwise
>> when I'm at a steady speed on level ground there is no noise.
>>
>> Axles/CVs: The entire axle/CV joint assemblies on both sides are new.
>> They were not the most expensive I found, but still, being modestly
>> priced, I wouldn't expect this from brand new joints. I've checked
>> the joints bolts and confirmed they're all tight.
>>
>> Brakes: When I replaced the axles I also did the brakes, so there are
>> turned drums, new shoes, and new wheel cylinders. Does not sound like a
>> shushing or scraping noise like brakes can sometimes make.
>>
>> Wheels/Tires: Tires are new, but I suppose could be out of balance, but
>> I suspect I'd feel this as a vibration, not hear it as a noise.
>>
>> This van is being restored and previously only towed it, so I don't know
>> if the noise would have been there before the recent work. Upon the
>> first couple test drives, there was no thumping sound but it started to
>> appear after about 15 miles.
>>
>> One thing I don't know about is the bearings between the CV joint and
>> the brake hub. Over many years, I've yet to have an issue or even look
>> at these in any of my vans. Could this be the source of the noise?
>>
>> What should I suspect is making this noise?
>>
>> Jim Davis
>>