[Vwdiesel] Advice needed on left front wheel issues

[Bryan Belman]

Thank you ALL, great advise and THAT is why WE stay here, right!

James, I do get a bad tie rod wobble at times as well, great point.

I will do the entire front hub swap from The Parts Place then and most likely just replace the boots on my original axle, as the CV joint only makes noise if I am turning really sharply.

Now to find the time and get the Westy back on the road and out of the garage.  Now that this 92 Jetta should not be driven unless needed, that will fuel me up to get the van back in action and get this one in there to takes it place in the garage.
Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :)
92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel -- running :)
82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- Not running :(
70 Type 1 stock Beetle -- Not running :( 




________________________________
From: James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net>
To: Bryan Belman <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 2:37:05 AM
Subject: RE: [Vwdiesel] Advice needed on left front wheel issues

Usually, play as you describe is wheel bearing related, as long as the nut
is tight on the cv splined shaft that goes through the hub.  If the nut
isn't tight, the bearings are shot anyway.  They are two angular contact
bearings that need preload to stay in place, otherwise if no preload, they
get damaged.  Bad wheel bearings can be surprisingly quiet.  I though I had
a bad tierod on my 97 golf td.  Turns out the wheel was wobbling so bad, the
car handled like a bad tierod with lots of play. No noise whatsoever.
Bearing was practically scrap. Learned a lesson to not be so tolerant of a
handling issue, and to look, actually look at it.
-j

> -----Original Message-----
> From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com]
> On Behalf Of Bryan Belman
> Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:06 AM
> To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Subject: [Vwdiesel] Advice needed on left front wheel issues
> 
> 92 A2 Jetta, 215K, both front wheel bearings were replaced about 35K
> ago.
> 
> I finally got time to do the test suggested to help pin point
> the growling wheel sound I am hearing the loudest at 45mph.
> I jacked up the front wheels, 1 at a time, get her up to 45mph and
> killed the motor to let it spin down.  My wife was in the car and I was
> at the wheel listening.
> Here is what I found.
> 
> The left front does have more sound to it, but not much more then right
> side.
> 
> 1.  But, the left front wheel has a good bit of play in and out, as if
> the splin nut is not on tight enough.
> 2.  The wheel almost seemed to wobble as it was spinning up in the air
> so there are issues on this side for sure.
> 3.  In addition, the short axle seems original and should be replaced
> as both boots have cracks, some leakage of greese and I do hear a bad
> CV joint noise when I really turn sharply and moving slow, so must be
> this side.  I replace the long axle about 20K ago as it has split boots
> and I figued that was the side the noise was coming from, but it was
> not.
> 4.  The pinion oil flange on the left side is leaking pretty good and
> needs replaced again, it was replace about 30K ago.
> 5.  I have a new strutt for this side and upper mounting bushings, so
> can put them in when I do all of this.
> 
> 
> So, what to buy when ordering from Autohaus, AZ.
> Short Axle and core charge until I return mine.  Oh, looks like they do
> not offer this, I can get this local.
> Wheel bearing kit with all the clips and Axle spline nut, $35, you can
> go wrong here.  I can return if mine is OK.
> Pinion oil seal, but they say this is for Automatic Trans only, I have
> 5 sp.
> Differential Bearing, this is for the transmission side?
> 
> I am not convinced the wheel bearing is bad, much of my transmission
> noise is most likely becuase my transmission oil level is most likely
> low from the leaking pinion oil seal.
> 
> What is the best way to approach this job?  I hope to work with a
> friend in his shop to do the work, but would like to get it all done in
> a saturday afternoon, which is possible if the wheel bearing does not
> have to be pressed out.
> 
> thanks
> 
> Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
> 04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :)
> 92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel -- running :)
> 82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- Not running :(
> 70 Type 1 stock Beetle -- Not running :(
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