[Vwdiesel] 81 Rabbit - wheel balance issue

[Roger Brown]

rbp at 4u2bu.org wrote:
> hey gang - I have something going on in the front end of my 81 Rabbit
> sounds and feels like an unbalanced front tire
> but I put new tries on front recently, balanced, and there was no sign  
> of this for the first month or two
> AND, it goes away when I am turning right
> gets worse turning left
> so obviously not a tire
> it's a thumping sound directly coordinated w/ tire RPMs
> going slow it's thump-thump-thump, @ highway speeds it sounds like a  
> gatling gun
> (OK, not that loud, but you can hear and feel it)
> wheel hubs are not warm to touch after long highway driving
> any thoughts on what this is?
> thanks
> Rolf in MA

Wheel bearings will make more noise/vibration when they are on the outside wheel in a turn 
and less/none when that wheel is on the inside of a turn.  Might also be a CV joint 
starting to go out.  I recently replaced both CVs on my '82.  They were rebuilt units, 
about 5 years old and had a vibration you could feel up at 60MPH and faster.  Put in some 
brand new Empi CV axles and it is smooth as silk now.

-- 

   Roger