Itinerant Air-Cooled

Bad ball joint? I can't both push it up and down and be underneath to pinpoint the source....

https://youtu.be/g53BXr5EXVA

https://youtu.be/nds3iXp6Rjo

I've been driving it and noticing a troubling noise from the front end over bumps. That's what led me to pushing to bumper up and down.

No, I don't think so. I've been driving it and noticing a troubling noise from the front end over bumps. That's what led me to pushing to bumper up and down. Probably should have mentioned this in my earlier post!

Man, we are all just guessing without being there... it sort of looked like your inner tie rod, driver's side (I think), was moving in sync with the click in the first video. Otherwise, idler arm bushing, pitman arm, steering dampener, four tie rod ends, two ball joints, a sway bar, and the camber adjusters...did I miss any possible clickers? Oh, and the shock absorbers... reach up in there and yank on stuff til something clicks...

I finally replaced everything to get rid of shimmy and weird noises. Now, I just have an unsettling swerve plus dip when I brake hard...

Also check the bolts holding the bumper on...

Actually, I did find loose bumper bolts and tightened them but to no avail. All wear items were replaced when I went through the front end in the mid-90's but that was only a few thousand miles ago!

Jack that corner up and push/pull on the wheel, that might help you isolate the noise too depending on which 'direction' of push/pull causes the sound.

I think it is in the shock absorber, as far as the fidelity of my laptop will allow. There is often a plastic "boot" between the rod and the cartridge, and when it lets go, it cocks and bangs the cartridge. You need to get to the strut while someone else does the movement.
Put your hand on components and narrow down the source.
Another interesting symptom from vwlover77 . . .
Colin

It turned out to be an easy fix. The cap that holds the strut insert in the strut housing had loosened! This allowed the insert to move up and down inside the housing, causing the noise. I tightened it up, and the noise is gone!

Fantastic sleuthing, and congrats on getting the free easy fix!

Aren't these cars fun?
Robbie

vwlover77 wrote:It turned out to be an easy fix. The cap that holds the strut insert in the strut housing had loosened! This allowed the insert to move up and down inside the housing, causing the noise. I tightened it up, and the noise is gone!
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I cannot imagine how that cap could have loosened to the extent of the noise in your video. Does it even have enough available threads to allow the cartridge to move so substantially?

How do we conclude that it does not loosen in the future? Did you note if oil was used in the tube prior to installation? About a cup is poured down the tube to help in heat transfer and heck help prevent the cartridge from getting rusted in there.
Colin

I did not pay close attention, but I recall I was able to tighten the cap by 1/2 to 2/3 of a turn. I did not remove the cap so I cannot comment on the number of threads. There are still some threads showing below the cap - you can see them in the photo.

I'm guessing the insert was probably not moving more that a millimeter in the housing. When I replaced the strut inserts back in the early 90's, I had only the Bentley as a guide. It provides no information about how to replace the strut inserts, so I probably figured the oil inside the housing had leaked out of the original insert. I do not remember, but I'm almost sure I assembled everything dry. Maybe the amount of noise is not unreasonable considering no cushion of oil?

What is supposed to keep the cap in place, other than high tightening torque? Maybe I did not tighten it sufficiently when I replaced the insert?

vwlover77 wrote:I did not pay close attention, but I recall I was able to tighten the cap by 1/2 to 2/3 of a turn. I did not remove the cap so I cannot comment on the number of threads. There are still some threads showing below the cap - you can see them in the photo.

I'm guessing the insert was probably not moving more that a millimeter in the housing. When I replaced the strut inserts back in the early 90's, I had only the Bentley as a guide. It provides no information about how to replace the strut inserts, so I probably figured the oil inside the housing had leaked out of the original insert. I do not remember, but I'm almost sure I assembled everything dry. Maybe the amount of noise is not unreasonable considering no cushion of oil?

What is supposed to keep the cap in place, other than high tightening torque? Maybe I did not tighten it sufficiently when I replaced the insert?

The tightening torque is the only thing that holds it. I last used a big channellock pliers to snug the cartridge down on retro1302's Super Beetle. As I remember, it was a pretty good firm 80 ft/lbs or something, the nut at the top is about 45 ft/lbs, the three 13mm attachment nuts are in the low 20's . . . what the heck, read your Bentley and you let us know!
Colin