Growling or Rumbling Noise ??

[RWebb]

This relates to a 1986 VW Vanagon with an automatic transmission:

I had a CV joint boot fail (after less than 1 year and 450 miles!) and while driving it in to the shop that originally did the work, I am now hearing a rumble or a growling noise at city speeds -- maybe up to 45 mph (have not taken it on the open hwy).

The Van has an auto. tranny but the noise appears to change with road speed, not with engine rpm.

Receipts from a PO state that the R. wheel bearings were repacked 38,000 miles ago (9 years ago), and I had the F. wheel bearings repacked or replaced just a couple of years ago.

I've always heard that bad CV joints make a clicking noise, that's not what I am hearing.



Could it possibly be anything else besides wheel bearings???

[stomachmonkey]

Tire

[Laneco]

I've never had a CV fail (okay, I did break one during a burn-off in the spyder) until this year.

This year, we've replaced 3 CV joints on three seperate cars.

None of them made a clicking noise. One made a thumping noise, one made an odd sensation during a turn - like tugging on the wheel with no noise of any kind, and the third made a crisp metallic popping sound when you moved the transmission from park to drive or when you went over a bump.

Weird noises like you describe are in my humble opinion usually one of these three things.

1. Wheel Bearing
2. CV
3. Tire

Of course, you're Randy - if there's something especially painful $$ wrong - it's probably wrong on your car!

angela

[Jim Richards]

Tire noise will change with vehicle speed and road surface.

The AT's differential might also be the source...hopefully not. Make sure the fluid is up to the right level, and the fluid is the right stuff.

Hopefully, whatever it is, it's any easy inexpensive fix.

[RWebb]

tires are brand new Michelins, BTW

[Jagshund]

Tire. Or there's a cat stuck in the engine bay. But usually caused by a tire in my experience.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Laneco

I've never had a CV fail (okay, I did break one during a burn-off in the spyder).....

angela

A burn-off? I've never heard of such a thing... please elaborate.

And please tell us whether you obtained a permit from the local fire department prior to said burn-off.

[RWebb]

this is unlike any tire noise I've ever heard

are you all saying it could be noise from brand new tires??

[Laneco]

It was an accidental burn-off (big time wheel spin)... I generally reserve silly things like deliberate burn-offs for one of the V8 pushrod cars, not the Porsches.

I was in the throttle pretty hard out of a stop light in the spyder when I just hit an oddly soft patch of pavement - like it was oil soaked and the surface just sort of flaked off. Spun both tires hard, and then just a few feet later, hit good pavement again - BANG - broken CV.

Totally my fault. I was too embarassed to tell Steve (husband), so I had the car towed home where I tried to get it fixed before he got home. He came home. Busted.

angela

[Superman]

Bad CV joints do make clicking noises, particularly in turning and especially under load.

Growling is virtually always a wheel bearing or tire noise. If you raise the vehicle up and spin the wheels, any non-brake noise you hear suggests a wheel bearing problem. Swapping out tires can help diagnose that problem.

[madmmac]

When the boot let go--so did the grease inside. My guess cv joint.

[cstreit]

Wheel bearings will also growl when bad...

[Jim Richards]

Angela, you mean burn-out.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by RWebb

this is unlike any tire noise I've ever heard

are you all saying it could be noise from brand new tires??

Yes, one could be defective.

There are a finite number of things that spin at road speed.

Start with the obvious and work your way in.

Could be a loose bearing nut.

[UconnTim97]

New tires you say? Check the lug nuts.

The Nitto tires that we put on our truck last year are quite loud compared to the original Goodyears. It is only noticeable at highway speeds are on rough pavement.

[sammyg2]

LOL, back in my yoot (19 years old) I had a 914 as a DD.
I noticed that there was a clicking noise from the left rear when I went around corners. Had to be a CV.
Now the porsche CV's were really expensive but I managed to locate the same part number through a VW parts house, but they were still 'spensive for a kid in college. Around $40 each IIRC for 4 of em. Half a week's pay back then.

Anywho, I managed to get the drive shafts out and get the bearings off and the new bearings on in my parent's garage without any specialty tools.

Got the rebuilt driveshafts in and drove it, no more clicky. You Hoo!
Fer a week. Then it came back.

Drove me crazy, but after a few more weeks I diagnosed the problem. The PO had installed a set of riviera wheels and used the stock length lug bolts, and they didn't zackly fit right.

I managed to scrounge the right lug bolts, no more clicky.
That's what I get fer jumping to conclusions.

[KaptKaos]

Some small tire shops may sell tires that are very close to the end of their shelf life. I had someone do that to me once, and I called him on it very loudly in his shop. Made for an interesting day. Check your tire date codes. You will need to look up the codes online. Older tires can delaminate (like mine did) and cause all kinds of weird behaviors.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

LOL, back in my yoot (19 years old) I had a 914 as a DD.
I noticed that there was a clicking noise from the left rear when I went around corners. Had to be a CV.
Now the porsche CV's were really expensive but I managed to locate the same part number through a VW parts house, but they were still 'spensive for a kid in college. Around $40 each IIRC for 4 of em. Half a week's pay back then.

Anywho, I managed to get the drive shafts out and get the bearings off and the new bearings on in my parent's garage without any specialty tools.

Got the rebuilt driveshafts in and drove it, no more clicky. You Hoo!
Fer a week. Then it came back.

Drove me crazy, but after a few more weeks I diagnosed the problem. The PO had installed a set of riviera wheels and used the stock length lug bolts, and they didn't zackly fit right.

I managed to scrounge the right lug bolts, no more clicky.
That's what I get fer jumping to conclusions.

I lost a wheel on a 914 that way. After market wheels were too thick in the center. lugs only had a few turns on them.

[Superman]

Again, that specific term, "growling," is VERY indicative of tire or wheel bearing noise.

Clicking....CV joints. Growling......tire or wheel bearing.