[s-cars] Couple things.....Outer Front CV Boot, Brake parts, brake tools....

[Tom Green]

>
Looks like you have lots of good suggestions, Jim.
While you can't do the CV boot on the car, you don't have to take the  
control arm off the strut to remove the axle from the hub on the  
front.  From there, you can take the CV
joint off and leave the inner hub connected, but you only have the six  
bolts holding it on that are not difficult to reach.  Your choice, you  
can just tie the axle up and force the
outer CV off with the big hub bolt and take that to the bench, or take  
the whole axle off and put on the bench, clean the joint, re-pack with  
lube  in the boot kit and replace.

I don't think you have much worry about aftermarket brake lines.  The  
rubber needs to be high quality EDPM just to resist the brake fluid  
when installing.  Once you are
using the high quality materials, the manufacture of the hose and end  
crimps is easily within the capability of about any manufacturer.   
Many make their own lines with
Earl brake parts.  You are going to check them regularly also.

I like the Motiv pressure bleeder and catch bottles.  Many online  
sellers have them.    I am not going into the brake repair business,  
so the Harbor Freight retractor works
fine for me.  Something is wrong with the caliper if it won't retract  
easily after getting it started.  The mistake is to tighten it too  
tight before rotating the piston to retract.

People still turn rotors, but it's only necessary if it is grooved.   
The spec only allows removal of 2mm rotor thickness from new  
dimensions, so a badly grooved or worn
rotor is trash.  If you don't need to turn them, you can remove the  
lip if necessary and lightly scuff the surface with emery paper to  
remove the glaze and promote new pad
bedding.

Tom

> -----Original Message-----
> Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 10:15:35 -0600
> From: "Jim Fleischer" <jim at almgt.com>
> Subject: [s-cars] Couple things.....Outer Front CV Boot, Brake parts,
> 	brake tools....
> To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <E01C62C43F8C4631932870B59FB52CED at 421Capitol>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hey guys,
>
> While surveying my brake needs, I noticed my left front CV boot is  
> split and leaking grease.....I noticed Blau has a $99 refurb kit for  
> the outer cv joint.  Anyone just do the boot while it is still on  
> the car?  Or do I need to take the whole axle off to R&R the cv  
> boot?  Not hearing any clicking or anything, so I think the joint is  
> still fine.  BTDT appreciated.....or other suggestions.
>
> As far as brakes go, where can I get good old fashioned OEM parts  
> made in Germany, instead of some of this aftermarket "who knows  
> where it came from" crap.  All I want is some OEM rubber brake  
> lines, decent pads with the sensors, and maybe some rotors......BTW  
> does anyone resurface rotors anymore?  Mine have plenty of life  
> left, but have a ridge at the top.  Can I grind that off to make r&r  
> easier?
>
> Can anyone suggest any of the brake caliper retraction tools to make  
> the job easier?  How about a pressure bleeder?  Harbor freight?   
> Thanks!
>
> As always, thank you for the insight.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Jim Fleischer
> '95 s6 avant w/78K needing brakes
> '83 ur