no......
you run it  in the air silly.

support the rear ( 2WD drive vans only ! ) in the air on very big solid
jackstands ( mine are Snap-On brand truck jack stands rated at 10,000 lbs  )
..
and you run it, in gear..
and you carefully get under there
( or use a lift ) .

be creative .

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 6:33 AM
Subject: Re: Rear Wheel (bearing?) noise.

> ---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> Use a stethoscope or the screwdriver to ear method to further isolate the
>> noise. Rear wheel bearings last a long time but they do require
>> lubrication
>> at some point. If a rear wheel bearing is suspected they really need to
>> be
>> replaced as a failure under way can be catastrophic and will often result
>> in
>> the stub axle or wheel flanged being trashed. Bearing noise with
>> acceleration changes point more to transmission problem than a wheel
>> problem.
>
> Hmmm ..... .  How does one (of course, a mechanic with a lift might be
> able to do so) use a stethoscope or a metal rod to listen for the exact
> point from which a noise only evident in motion emanates?  Wheel bearings,
> axles, transmissions only emit their noises when the part in question is
> being driven.  Or is there some way to get them to by noisy when
> stationary?  mcneely
>
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of
>> Don Hanson
>> Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 3:18 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Rear Wheel (bearing?) noise.
>>
>>   Not long ago I replaced both my CV joints on the right axle, having
>> done
>> the left a season ago.  I was hoping this CV replacement might also quiet
>> down the right rear wheel...but it has not.  Since I put on some new rear
>> Hakka tires, I can hear this 'bearing-style' noise more clearly,
>> especially
>> when I am running straight at about 30mph (below where the wind noise
>> drowns
>> it out) on very smooth asphalt. The noise I am hearing has been with the
>> van
>> all along, I think,  but not enough to be really alarming or a "stop
>> driving, something's gonna bust" type noise....  Since I'm leaving soon
>> to
>> do about 4000 miles along mostly remote rural highways on my annual
>> winter
>> snowbird migration, I am trying to address most of the problems I can
>> anticipate...within reason, of course...I can't afford to rebuild the
>> whole
>> bus or buy a Go Westie Gold-plated Syncro with Extended warranty.
>>
>>   This morning, while I had the floor jack out to do some lubing of the
>> shift linkage and to spread some peanut oil on my header system (inline
>> four
>> with custom exhaust)  I did some 'diagnostics'.  With either rear wheel
>> lifted and the vehicle in neutral, of course the wheel in the air
>> spins....5sp manual tranny.. but you can stop it with your hand....So,
>> neither wheel makes any unusual noise in that mode.......Grabbing the
>> tires,
>> top and bottom and rocking the wheels....both feel very similar in
>> 'play'....what you normally feel when testing like this...maybe about
>> 1/8"
>> of rocking...over all...similar to what I always feel on any wheelbearing
>> for freeplay...Ok...  Now, when I put the tranny in gear with one rear
>> tire
>> in the air....the driver's side is quiet...the tire turns like when it is
>> being dragged over in neutral...at about the same noise level and it
>> feels
>> smooth....but on the right rear wheel, when you let out the
>> clutch....that
>> one sounds like bad bearings....Shift into neutal and let it go
>> round...quiet....
>>   So, with new CV already and no undue freeplay at the wheel indicating
>> bad
>> wheel bearings...and no alarming noise when the wheel is turning under
>> clutch drag, but ugly noise when it is turning in 2nd gear with the wheel
>> up....What?  Maybe related....I sometimes get a buzzing vibration on hard
>> acceleration from a dead stop, combined with a left turn...I have
>> surmised
>> this is caused by my 50degree engine configuration allowing some contact
>> with the body...but maybe not...maybe related to the right wheel drive in
>> some way.   .I have a new set of wheel bearings for the rear that I
>> planned
>> on taking along as spares on my trip..
>>
>>   I have no indications of transmission problems (unless this noisy right
>> side drive wheel is one).  I am running Swepco, changed out twice per
>> year
>> and I have not seen any metal in the old oil....
>>
>>   I'm OK doing repairs away from home on my own, but I don't want to lose
>> a
>> transmission while on a trip.  This noise has been with the van for as
>> long
>> as I have had it...I am 'caught up' enough on all the other  stuff  now
>> to
>> let it bother me a little..  Should I just do the wheel bearing and see
>> if
>> the noise remains, then worry about the tranny or something else?  Any
>> way
>> to further isolate this off-sounding rotational noise without doing the
>> wheel bearing right now? (it's 27degrees in my shop, I'd rather do it in
>> the
>> desert in 80degrees, despite the sand)
>>
>>   Anyone have any thoughts on this that might help?
>
> --
> David McNeely