smirke's cruiser

[dagree]

Couple of questions to try help diagnose the issue @Smirke ...
1) Do the brakes feel like they are still grabbing when cold?
2) Did you get the wheel bearings serviced before leaving?
3) Did you get the brakes serviced/checked before leaving?

First things that came to mind was a possible tight bearing or sticking brake magnets?

 

[dagree]

Also try dragging the van a bit with brakes disconnected electronically and see if it still does it! If not that "MIGHT" rule out an electrical fault!

Without being there makes it hard to give a definitive answer but hope it's nothing major!

 

[bigcol]

very quick way to check
get your jack, lift up the wheel in question untill its off the ground

grab top and bottom (12 & 6 o'clock) give it a wobble
grab the sides (9 & 3 o'clock) give it a wobble

ANY movement (any at all) and you have a loose wheel bearing -

as @dagree said, any work on the front end (apart from tyres??????????)

 

[bigcol]

is it the Van or the 200..............?

 

[dagree]

is it the Van or the 200..............?

Good pick up @bigcol ... I automatically thought of the van!!!!!

 

[Smirke]

Definitely the vans wheel, it's the creaking sound you get when you go slow with breaks on.
Van was just serviced before we left. They did the bearings, not sure about brakes

 

[dagree]

Does it do it when cold?
If not more than likely a loose or tight bearing. Once hot there is a good chance brakes will expand giving the feeling they are grabbing.

As @bigcol said jack the relevant wheel up and check for play or tighness!

 

[Smirke]

Can't remember if it did it when cold.

 

[dagree]

Check it in the morning before ringing the 4X4 guy in Derby

 

[Smirke]

Just trying to jack it now. Can't get the front wheel off the ground. Got the back one off and it rotates happily, no movement

 

[dagree]

They are a pain in the rear to jack up... See if you can get the jack under the front axle instead of the vans chassis.... Less distance to lift!

 

[bigcol]

either that, or

get your wheel ramp, put it under the rear wheel, and see if you can move the van backwards onto the ramp enough to get the front wheel off the ground

 

[bigcol]

hey @Smirke I know its not the ideal time to be dealing with this, but

if the wheel bearing is loose (and over heating) you have 2 choices

1) take the wheel off completely until you get to a mechanic (wrap the end of the Axle in a plastic bag taped up securely)
if you take the wheel off, jack the Axel as high as it will go, and use a strap to tie it up to the chassis

or

clean up and re-pack the bearing............. as long as the bearing is not shot completely

 

[bigcol]

is that the solid axel or the independent suspension?????

 

[Drover]

Watching and waiting with fingers crossed................hoping just a dragging brake shoe. Might be an idea to get a bottle jack to put under the stub axle to lift wheel, the scissor jack under the chassis is dangerous I think.

 

[Smirke]

No noise when cold, both plugged and unplugged. We have the independent suspension. Will try broome as there's more places to get it looked at , just nowhere to stay

 

[Dobbie]

Good luck with the problem....I'm useless with that sort of issue so of no help.

Re Broome, I did hear they've opened an overflow area ....Showgrounds? So I'd imagine the local visitor's centre would be able to help. Might be worth giving them a call?

Life's not boring is it?

Stay safe.

 

[Drover]

If you have done a fair bit before it started to get hot then it is more than likely brake drag, if they had overtightened the bearings you would have noticed it very quickly after leaving home, unless the bearing has collapsed, but then the wheel would have been smoking big time, grease turns to oil and the wheel falls off eventually...................
Whatever happens if it gets really, really hot DO NOT PUT water on it, the brake drum can go bang but don't do a lot of distance if it gets so you cannot touch the brake drum with your bare hand, it can/will catch fire and you won't be able to stop it.....................dry powder extinguishers are useless on a brake drum fire.....
Don't mean to scare you would have answered better earlier but only had my phone..........

 

[dagree]

Drive safe and keep an eye on it until you get it sorted @Smirke

 

[bigcol]

I would stop every 20 mins or so, and once it gets hot
have a cuppa while it cools down

worst case scenario - as per @Drover
2nd worst case - bearing collapses, and destroys the axle shaft
3rd worst case - takes longer to get where your going


do it safely and be careful
PLEASE