wheels locking up on 4kq

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

Doesn't sound like wheel bearings to me. I'd say Kneale and Dennis are on 
target with the emergency brake pointer. You hafta get out and get under, 
or park it.

I just replaced the driver-side emergency brake cable AND the driver-side 
rear caliper on my 87 5kcstq, because that wheel had been acting like the 
brake was grabbing. The cause became obvious a few weeks ago, when I 
replaced my wheels with winter tires and wheels. When I had that wheel off, 
I noticed that the brake pads on that caliper were worn unevenly, with one 
pad almost to the limit but not the other.  I disconnected the emergency 
brake cable and the caliper still showed resistance to opening up, so I 
figured there was a problem inside the caliper and I replaced it. At the 
same time, with the emergency brake cable loose, I worked the cable back 
and forth in its sheath and noticed that it took great effort and lots of 
pushing and pulling with the vice grips to move the cable, so I replaced it 
also. Also, the cable sheath showed swollen lumpy spots, which indicated 
corrosion under the covering.

After replacing the caliper and cable, my driver-side rear wheel turns 
freely and I can set the emergency brake easily in a long smooth pull that 
incrementally adds pressure to that wheel. Works like new.

When I had an 86 4kq, I had to replace the rear calipers and cables, 
because the emergency cable cams on both calipers had corroded and locked 
up, and the cable internals had rusted. So, your problem has happened to 
other people. I suspect that annual dabbings with grease on those EB cable 
ends and cams would be a good idea, along with some attention to freeing up 
and providing adequate lubrication for the guide pins. You might consider 
replacing the calipers and cables and starting over.

Doyt Echelberger

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At 12:29 AM 11/12/00 +0000, you wrote:
>Hey listers,
>
>         I'm having a dilemma with the rear wheels on my 87 4kq when it is 
> cold outside (ie below freezing) they are  causing the car to slide 
> around on ice and when the roads are dry it is like I am braking while 
> driving at the same time. This started getting bad a few days ago I 
> really noticed this morning while trying to drive over fresh snow and ice 
> when I realized what was happening I found a semi dry spot and started in 
> first gear at higher RPM's that seemed to cure it for the time being. I 
> was wondering what suggestions you all might have as to what the cause 
> may be. I am suspecting bad bearings, but I could be wrong. Is there any 
> other way to tell if the bearings are bad?
>TIA
>Doug Hill
>87 4k cs quattro
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