[Vwdiesel] Front Wheel grind?DIAGNOSE

[Mike & Coreen Smith]

Hi guys.....been super-duper busy lately so am unable to contribute much at
all, and only glance daily
at the posts.

I would like a little help diagnosing the severity of a sudden problem.  I
am going on a short trip next week and would like to either fix it, or
forget it and use my backup car (grudgingly)

Tonight I heard kind of a sudden crunch or two in the right front wheel on
my 86 Golf Diesel....just after going over a small
bump/pothole........((.but this is NB....there are potholes every 10', so it
may not mean anything.))
Then about 5 mins later, when backing out of a parking spot, it felt almost
like it momentarily slipped out of reverse.......MAYBE....kindof a
slippy/clunk feeling, just ever so briefly.

There is now a scraping sound at low speeds, then it gradually works into a
low howl, but at freeway speeds, I guess it's gone.  No grabbing at
intersections (like anything was seized.)  After a 1/2 hour trip, I could
just barely detect any heat on the rim....hardly enough to mention really.,
but I could smell kindof an oily rubbery smell....not too strong, but you
could detect it........I think coming from near that wheel.

Any ideas?

Wheel bearing?
 CV joint? (no clicking clunking noises)
Driveshaft/tranny?
I doubt brakes........

Thanks

Mike

Mike, Coreen & Corey Smith
699 Rte 616 Keswick Ridge
NB
Canada
E6L 1T1