Thanks for all the replies. I dropped it off to the mechanic I trust other than me. 

I had not thought this could be saved. Maybe the old salty dog will have a way to lube or save the axle joint before it is too gone. 

T. 

On Feb 10, 2014, at 12:46 PM, Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

Mine sounded similar with a clunk clunk with speed that came and went until
it was constant then started vibrating. All the noise and vibration
increased with speed. I replaced all 4 cv joints my passenger outer was
very dry and bolts were coming loose too!

Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
> On Feb 10, 2014 11:34 AM, "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> You can also get a needle at your flaps with a zerk-like fitting that will
> snap into your grease gun. Inject that sucker with grease from multiple
> points. Also, a brake shoe will create a ruckus, but more of a clunk clunk
> clunk that comes and goes than a vibration or a constant noise.
> 
> Jim
> 
> 
>> On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 11:17 AM, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@q.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Should be able to lube joints from the axle ends of the boots. Snake a
>> grease gun in there; squeeze in a few strokes, and massage the boot to
> work
>> grease into the joint. Noise will go away.  Plan on cleaning and relubing
>> at your leisure.
>> 
>> Karl Wolz
>> Sent from my electronic umbilicus
>> 
>>> On Feb 10, 2014, at 7:20 AM, T Collins <tonycollin@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Im asking for your opinions as to identify a bad CV joint.
>>> 
>>> I had for sometime heard a little clunking back there, to the rear
>>> passenger side of the vanagon. That clunking would come and go never
> bad,
>>> or caused vibration or anything, It would appear and then simply
> vanish.
>>> 
>>> Now this clunking is more of a ruckus since last week. I got stuck on a
>>> slope over a sheet of ice. So I spun hard on the axles (or the one) due
>> to
>>> the sheet of ice. Last Friday coming home I heard the clunk, clunk at
>>> highway speed with a particularly bad vibration.
>>> 
>>> Had not driven the vanagon this weekend and on the way to work the
> clunk,
>>> clunk was there as described from Friday.
>>> 
>>> I had not seen any rips on the boots.
>>> 
>>> 1) ANY chance a brake pad could cause the same?
>>> 2) Does it sound to you guys that the axle is on the way out?
>>> 3) One more think, In manual 85 GL vanagon tin tops are the axles the
>> same
>>> right and left?
>>> 
>>> All this while it sucks to work on cars outside.
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> T.
>