Bearings can growl especially rears and checking play is not a reliable
indicator of a problem. Growls are often the result of the races failing and
having a rough surface. Fronts can often be diagnosed by sharply turning the
wheel (changing direction) while driving to see if the noise changes. Any
noise change with steering input indicates a problem bearing.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
JRodgers
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2012 5:45 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: WowWowWowWowWow sound when rolling on down

I have this sound in the running gear on 'Ol Red. I have the same new
General Altimax RT tire on both of my '88 vanagons - 'Ol Red and 'Ol Blue -
so I decided to swap the the tires between the machines - one at a time -
and see if I could isolate a particular tire/rim. Swap completed for all
wheel/tires and the sound is still there. So it wasn't in the tires/wheels.
So that means???? I can only think of bearings, but in my experience a wheel
bearing produces a distinctive and continuous growl when it's near death. I
have no vibrations, and no pulling one way or another - so there doesn't
appear to be anything bent or out of alignment. I'm mystified. Any ideas,
anyone?

Thanks,

John