Car Talk

[Toast]

I have a noise coming out of my car that has me worried. It’s kind of a blend of a rattle and knock… knaka-naka-naka-naka that rises subtly on the highway when I take my hand off the steering wheel. Yes, there’s a little road vibration that’s transmitting to the steering wheel. I noticed it ever so subtly two or three weeks ago, but this weekend, it’s suddenly bad enough that I think I need to get it fixed.

 

My question is, do I need to get this fixed asap, or just soon.

 

Year: 1997

Make/Model: VW GTI VR6

Transmission: 5 speed manual, front wheel drive

 

Also, can somebody recommend a good VW mechanic in Seattle – not the eastside… I need to be able to ride my bike to it.

 

[Weekend_Climberz]

I'm not sure if he works on newer model VW's, but Han's VW on 35th Ave SW in West Seattle is awesome. If you speak to him in German, he might even give you a discount :tup:

[Toast]

Mist, spreche ich nicht Deutsches

[fenderfour]

Yes, you should get this ooked at ASAP. There are a number of things that it could be, some no big deal, others have nasty consequences.

 

1. Tires - could be a wear/alignment issue, could be running on cords. Risk of blowout

 

2. Alignment - Causes uneven wear on tires, noise, pulling, small steering issues

 

3. Ball joint - Worn ball joints are an annoyance for the most part. If you let them go too long they can pop loose, loosing steering on a side.

 

4. Wheel bearing - this seems the least likely cause. A bad bearing can cause a fire.

[Recycled]

First, rotate your tires and see if the problem persists. Sometimes tires used on a lot of logging roads can suffer internal delamination that causes stranger problems. I've driven myself nuts trying to figure out a VW front end problem that turned out to be a delam tire. Missing tire weights can also cause wobble problems that can aggravate failing struts.

 

Based on the age and likely mileage of your car, I'd guess that you're probably in for new front stuts and possibly a wheel bearing if you haven't done these yet. Those things usually start to show up on VWs at about 125-150,000 miles. Wheel bearings usually rumble more than knock, but you never know. It could also be a CV joint, but that usually shows up first when turning, not going straight. Failed tie rod ends usually don't show up until a bit later on VWs unless you have a lot of log-road miles and abuse on the car.

 

Good luck.

[Toast]

Got new tires, replaced wheel bearings last year. I'm hoping it's only a loose strut. Replacing them would cost a bundle : (

[G-spotter]

CV joint is the first thing that leaps to mind. That's the sound my brother's car made just before the wheel came off in traffic while he was doing 60km/h over a bridge

[catbirdseat]

CV joints make more noise when turning one way compared to the other. Easy to determine. If the noise is more or less speed dependent, but not direction dependent, it is more likely the struts. If that is what it is, see if you can't find used ones at Pull A Part.

 

 

[Crillz]

I'd say it's a failing ball joint. Had the same situation and similar sounds about a year ago with my subaru. Cheaper to get it fixed before the assembly becomes completely loose.

[Dechristo]

muffler bearings

 

 

better hope it's not piston-return springs

[fenderfour]

muffler bearings

 

 

better hope it's not piston-return springs

 

I had to replace some muffler bearings in my Hupmobile a few years ago. Getting the puller in there was a bitch!

[Skeezix]

I vote CV joint.

[cj001f]

it's the dildo on the gear shift.