Scott - none of that. Imagine a small animal growling as opposed to a
large animal growling. It is a bit like that, as opposed to a knock or
rattle. Doesn't occur except at speed. Braking doesn't affect it. Cruise
at 55, throw it out of gear and let the engine go to idle - it
disappears. Road noise only.

Question: will tranny gears similarly growl?? It's been a while since
the tranny was serviced - but I've not noticed any unusual oil or grease
drip or stain underneath..

John

On 10/21/2013 9:40 PM, Scott Daniel wrote:
> First thing that pops into my mind is ..
> does the sound change with application of brakes..
> or application of just the parking brake..
> and..
> does it change when you swerve left and right.
> "Usually' noisy wheel bearings change when swerving ..
>    the bad bearing/s being toward the quiet side..
> or away from the noisy direction..
> swerve left and it gets worse..it's often a left side bearing, if it's a
> bearing issue.
>
> you've jacked up and wiggled wheels ? ..
> that's a logical first step ..
> even an imprtant safety inspection in a case like this.
>
>
>
> On 10/21/2013 6:59 PM, JRodgers wrote:
>> Many, many times we Volk's have reported strange noises and asked what
>> they meant - hoping to head off disasters. Well, it's my turn, it would
>> seem.
>>
>> Imagine if you will, you are on a bicycle, and you have attached a
>> rectangular piece of card board to the front wheel fork so that the edge
>> of the card board sticks out just far enough in to the plane of the
>> rotating wheel that the card board strikes every spoke as it passes by.
>> At slow speed its an innocuous  put-put-put-put, but as the wheel speeds
>> up the tempo changes to a distinct whir like a small motor. We all did
>> this as kids. Right? Well, I've got the whir without the cardboard - in
>> my Vanagon.
>>
>> This whir sounds just like that cardboard but it begins to become
>> noticeable around 50 mph - gets louder with more speed and disappears in
>> road noise around 65 mph.
>>
>> I am concerned! There is no vibration associated with it. I am wondering
>> if some bearing issue is developing - or other.
>>
>> Anyone care to speculate?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> John
>>
>