Bad vibrations!

Hello,

Something is knockning and vibrating at the back of my golf (1983 gti) at low revs especially when i pull away in 1st. At first i thought it might be the exhaust knockning on the rear panel, but on closer inspection its not looking like it is. Perhaps dodgey wheel bearings or shock absorbers?? Any ideas anyone??

Could be the brake pad linings detaching from the carriers  8O  

Try rocking the car forward and back with handbrake on while person with best ears listens for noises.

Jack up the rear with the car in gear, front wheels immobilised with chocks and handbrake off and see how easily the rear wheels spin.

To test for rear bearings being shot, see if you can rock each rear wheel - i.e. grab left and right sides, or top and botton, and see if the wheel is loose on the axle. If you feel it rocking a little - new bearings are cheap as chips.

And the Golf+ website has a guide to replacing them

Check also that rear wheel nuts are tight  :roll:  and that the rear torsion bar bolts aren't loose - although if all the above hasn't turned anything up you might want to find a friendly garage.

AliCabrio
PS - you might also try to reproduce the noise with someone standing outside the car, or leaning out of a window (not on the queen's highway m'lud - they might be better able to pinpoint where the noise is coming from for you.