Sound from the rear
08-09-2004, 11:12 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Sound from the rear
Yesterday or the day before I noticed a knock that came from the passenger side rear wheel area of my car. It got pretty bad today. I thought it was the CV joint (that's what it sounded like). I changed the CV joint today with one from a different car, but the sound is still there. It sounds like a knocking noise, but like whatever is knocking is wobbling or flopping around. It mainly happens when I am casually braking with the car out of gear, if I break a little harder the sound stops immediately after one of the knocks. I also hear it occasionally when letting the clutch out. Any ideas? Tomorrow I am going to pull the wheel off and check the brake caliper/rotor.
08-09-2004, 11:59 PM
#4
Drifting
The brake pads are held in with pins, as you know, so I'd be suprised if that was the culprit. You have done the wheel bearings recently. I would check that closely. If the little snap ring is not in correctly, or the stub axle nuts not tighened correctly that could cause a noise.
08-10-2004, 12:19 AM
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
I've had a stub axle nut come loose once and it sounded nothing like this, still a good thing to check though. I've had the calipers off recently too, so I'm thinking maybe one of the bolts could have loosened. I'm not too sure what's wrong. Thanks though.
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08-10-2004, 02:36 PM
#8
Drifting
Thread Starter
I just pulled the wheel off, the stub axle nut was tight. The caliper seemed fine as well. The only two things I can think of is that like theedge said: parking brake pads, or that I am mistaken: the sound is coming from the transmission or driver's side.
08-10-2004, 11:23 PM
#9
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Had the same noise happen to me. Thought is was a CV joint also. The next time it happened I grabbed the parking brake and pulled...reset...pulled...reset. The sound went away and has never returned.
08-10-2004, 11:27 PM
#10
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Someone was talking a while back about having a bent stubb axel. I didn't get too far into it but it was making a sound on the drives side and it was the passenger side that was bad.
Its a long shot but if you run out of things to check...
Its a long shot but if you run out of things to check...
08-10-2004, 11:34 PM
#11
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Your rear wheel bearings may not have been done properly. I've had terrible luck with rear wheel bearings on my 83. They're almost a "maintenance item." I'm going to install new inner/outer hub axle spacers this time to see if that helps them last longer.
08-10-2004, 11:36 PM
#12
Drifting
I have the same problem, can't seem to be able to find it. I switched CVs and the problem is still slightly there.
When I had both CVs off, I noticed the axel mounts coming from the transmission, had a little play in it. So, while both CVs were out. I started the car and went through the gears. I left it in 5th and got out of the car. I looked at the axel mounts and they were definately vibrating and spinning. They made a similar noise to what I was looking to find. I thought perhaps the issue was in the trans, but not sure. Maybe because there was no resistance from the CVs, it was wobbling. I tried to tighted the allen bolt on the axel mount, but it was already tight.
So, I still do not know the issue. All gears shift smooth, clutch feels and engages perfect.....??
I might buy re-built CVs from the local autoparts store (the 83 CV is the same as a VW CV, so they sell each complete axel for $70). With new CVs, hopefully I can narrow it down.
When I had both CVs off, I noticed the axel mounts coming from the transmission, had a little play in it. So, while both CVs were out. I started the car and went through the gears. I left it in 5th and got out of the car. I looked at the axel mounts and they were definately vibrating and spinning. They made a similar noise to what I was looking to find. I thought perhaps the issue was in the trans, but not sure. Maybe because there was no resistance from the CVs, it was wobbling. I tried to tighted the allen bolt on the axel mount, but it was already tight.
So, I still do not know the issue. All gears shift smooth, clutch feels and engages perfect.....??
I might buy re-built CVs from the local autoparts store (the 83 CV is the same as a VW CV, so they sell each complete axel for $70). With new CVs, hopefully I can narrow it down.
08-10-2004, 11:37 PM
#13
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Oh.. Luis jogged my memory, thats what it was now. The wheel bearing kept going bad, which caused the sound and it was the stubb axel causing the problem.
08-10-2004, 11:50 PM
#14
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CT944 and Pearldrum944, the rear wheel bearings are literally an "achilles heel" for the early cars. The steel trailing arms hold basically all VW parts which aren't the best suited for the amount of torque and wheel size, I think.
At any rate, as the miles add up, the inner and outer spacers probably aren't up to snuff and it's a good idea to replace them. The bearings themselves are readily available from most aftermarket VW parts dealers, but I haven't had the same luck with the spacers, so I recently worked out an order for what appeared to be the last set in the U.S. except one,
which will come from Germany and take another month. 
As I understand it, the worn spacers let moisture enter the hub axle and rust out the bearings. Not good. Perhaps you will have more luck than I did by checking out your local aftermarket VW parts places for these spacers:
Inner: 113.501.305
Outer: 113.501.303
Wheel Seal: 113.501.291B
I assume you've already located the wheel bearings and seals:
Inner Bearing: 113.501.283
Outer Bearing: 113.501.277A
Seals (2 per hub): 113.501.315H
HTH
At any rate, as the miles add up, the inner and outer spacers probably aren't up to snuff and it's a good idea to replace them. The bearings themselves are readily available from most aftermarket VW parts dealers, but I haven't had the same luck with the spacers, so I recently worked out an order for what appeared to be the last set in the U.S. except one,
which will come from Germany and take another month. As I understand it, the worn spacers let moisture enter the hub axle and rust out the bearings. Not good. Perhaps you will have more luck than I did by checking out your local aftermarket VW parts places for these spacers:
Inner: 113.501.305
Outer: 113.501.303
Wheel Seal: 113.501.291B
I assume you've already located the wheel bearings and seals:
Inner Bearing: 113.501.283
Outer Bearing: 113.501.277A
Seals (2 per hub): 113.501.315H
HTH
08-11-2004, 12:25 AM
#15
Drifting
Thread Starter
I did the bearings recently, but this time the noises sound nothing like the bearings did. I don't get a constant grinding type noise. I don't even hear the noise that much when I drive, maybe every third time I brake to sub 5 mph. The stubb axle and mounting axle thing you guys talk about are kind of worrying me. Thanks for the tip John, I think I will try the parking brake thing tommorow, if that doesn't work I'll pull off the rotors and see if anything isn't right. Then if all else fails I'll look into the stubbs.