Hi,

I can't believe I've been reading this list for years watching everyone
make the same mistake I just made!  lol.

It's a 1991 Westy, standard transmission, 280,000 km on the Odomoter &
original engine, but unknown maintainence history on the rest of the
vehicle (except new alternator, new gas lines that I did).

That's a good idea about lifting the van to get a closer look. I'll look
around for chock like devices tomorrow morning when it gets light.

Cheers,
Steve W.

On 10/17/2013 11:37 PM, Neil N wrote:
> Hi Steve.
>
> Knowing the year of the Vanagon will help others help you. You have an
> automatic transmission? (likely not relevant)
>
> If it were me, Vanagon on level surface, wheels chocked, I'd use the
> stock jack to raise each rear wheel and spin each to see which wheel
> makes the noise. I'd also carefully check each wheel for in/out play;
> hold wheel at 6/9:00, gently push/pull or wiggle it. SAFETY FIRST
> since e-brake would be off and van out of gear. And DON'T keep your
> arms/hands up under van or any amount of time!
>
> It could be a rear brake part causing the noise but the squeaking
> sound seems strange. Any rear brake noise I've heard is more like a
> scraping "eep eep eep" type of sound.
>
> Take any dirt roads lately?  I did on my last trip and had a sound
> like a failed and fallen rear brake spring against the drum. Carrying
> a jack stand finally paid off! All I can figure is that the noise was
> caused by a small rock between drum and lip of backing plate. Removing
> parts and re-assembly cured the noise.
>
> image
>
> https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xL5DLeybWok/UkozLzXFS6I/AAAAAAAAIXA/6RlAh7mkNUk/s700/Wheel%2520Off%2520While%2520Exploring.jpg
>
> Neil.
>
> On Thu, Oct 17, 2013 at 11:09 PM, Steve Williams
> <steve@williamsitconsulting.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm on a bit of a road trip (2500 km so far), currently in Washington
>> State (Bellingham).  I'm 1000 km from home still (Calgary, AB).  I've
>> pulled more sustained hills on this trip than ever before, even going up
>> to the "Windy Ridge" lookout on Mt. St. Helens.
>>
>> Not that it's very relevant, but I drive very gently, never "flooring"
>> the gas pedal only pressing down on the gas the while the vehicle will
>> accelerate.  If it won't accelerate/sustain, I let it slow down & grab a
>> lower gear.  I keep the "working" RPM's in the 2500-3500 rpm range.
>>
>> I have a very strange noise coming from the rear drivers side wheel.  It
>> almost sounds like squeaking rubber, it's hard to tell because it
>> doesn't happen until 45 km/hr.  My gut" feeling is that it's got to be a
>> CV joint, but I thought I'd get some list wisdom.
>>
>> It only happens under "medium" acceleration.  When the noise starts,
>> backing off on the throttle or flooring the throttle will make it go
>> away.  I had lots of time to experiment on the Mt. St. Helens road, 16
>> km uphill in 2nd or 3rd gear (steepish, windy road).  It either subsides
>> or the road noise overpowers the noise as the speed increases above 55
>> km/hr.
>>
>> Happens between 40 & 55 km/hr with some sensitivity to going around
>> corners.  It seems to be quieter when making a left corner, though the
>> size of parking lots that I can find to test in limits this test a bit.
>> Does **not** happen in neutral or when going down a hill.
>>
>> I have been monitoring it all day (I had a meeting in Bellingham that I
>> had to get to).  The hub is not getting hot driving sustained highway
>> speeds, so I don't think it's wheel bearing.
>>
>> Additionally, when coasting (engine off, neutral) in the parking lot on
>> a gentle downhill in a parking lot (with me walking beside the vehicle),
>> it sounds like there is something rubbing on the brake drum for part of
>> the revolution of the wheel.  This noise doesn't happen in reverse.
>> Part of me wants to blame the brakes for this one...
>>
>> Once, when I parked & forgot to put the parking brake on & it rolled
>> ahead, I got a little "tick tick tick" out of the wheel for about every
>> 6 inches it rolled ahead.
>>
>> I have tightened all the lug nuts.
>>
>> I'm in Bellingham, Washington with a bit of a flexible schedule... I am
>> going to call around tomorrow (Friday) and see if anyone can have a look
>> at it.  I'm pretty sure I'm limited to what I can do with the tool box
>> that I have, and my spare alternator isn't going to help in this case!  lol.
>>
>> What's the list wisdom on what this might be?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Steve W.
>
>