Weird 5kcstq stuff

[B Vibert]

"Doyt W. Echelberger" wrote:
>
> Don't know whuzzup, Burl. But I just finished changing the right front
> wheel bearing on my 87 5ktq, after it destroyed the rotor and the brake
> pads on that wheel. And it didn't happen overnight. For about 4 months I
> felt the front brakes shake some when I applied them, and as the weeks
> rolled by it got worse. And I am a nut about having good brakes.
>
> So, eventually I took it to my mechanic and he put it up  on the lift and
> wiggled the front wheels and I could see how loose the passenger front was.
> It just wobbled around on its axle and it was obvious that the wheel
> bearing was very sloppy and loose.
>
> But it had never growled like all my other bad wheel bearings did. This is
> probably my sixth bad wheel bearing on an Audi, and they all growled for
> months as they failed......except this one.  This one gave no warning
> except it allowed the wheel to wobble around when I put on the brakes.





Hi Doyt

 Hmmmm, I have gone through a lot of wheel bearings on this car as
well.  As you said, they all growled first though, except maybe this
one. Something doesn't feel right though so I'll have to check
everything out tomorrow.




>
> I thought it was just warped rotors. I have trued up warped front rotors
> half a dozen times in the past 4 years by taking it up to 80 and hauling it
> down really quick about three or four times, using the brakes and keeping
> on the throttle at the same time.



That's what I was trying when the engine started quitting and the I
decided the shaking was more than a rusty spot on the rotors from
sitting for a couple of weeks.  Looks like it's going back on the jack
stands.



>
> I was headed toward such an amateur solution this time, but something about
> the front end shake was different, or as you say 'weird.'  It was more than
> just warped rotors, and I figured maybe it needed some bushings or
> something, so I took it to a pro and he made the call......bad wheel
> bearing, atypical failure mode. It had worn a groove in the rotor and had
> worn away one pad unevenly.
>
> Anyhow, we put in a new wheel bearing, and on both sides new front rotors
> and pads. Then I bled a little from the brake lines and from the wallet,
> and now I have what feels like a new front end.  Very smooth stops. Very
> expensive stops....
>
> So, I tell you this because things are not always as they appear when it
> involves such complex systems as brakes and wheels and steering, etc.  You
> called the behavior of your car 'weird.' This is another word for
> atypical....beyond normal experience.  And we are talking about a
> life-or-death system on your car.
>
> And perhaps because of the critical nature of the system, it deserves to be
> looked at by a pro this time. Maybe you don't want to risk your life by
> tolerating brakes that aren't working right, on top of an engine that
> somehow signals that it may just stop on you one of these days. Who knows
> what it will do or not do next?  Hey man, you GOTTA be able to
> stop....really well, every time.....very basic stuff.


Yup, having a wheel fall off at speed doesn't sound like something I
want to try so I guess I'll have to drive the 911 to work tomorrow
morning, what a drag;-)



Burl Vibert
1987 5kcstq
Kingston, Ontario