Re: brake dragging ...

[MEL1523@ACS.TAMU.EDU]

;Hi, Mitch and Zafer,
;My '86 5kcs also has a little dragging sometimes.  Last month when
;I had the oil change at Anchor Audi Dealer in Long Island, the
;mechanics told me that the dragging is caused by faulty master
;cylinder.  The estimated cost: $270 parts and $105 labor.  I'm
;going to have a second estimate on this.  
;Zafer, can you tell me how much it costed to replace the master
;cylinder?  
;Bysides, the car sometime squeaks (seems from rear wheels, I'm
;not sure) occationally.  Anchor Audi couldn't find anything else
;except the above master cylinder problem.  
;Minven

Minven and Zafer:

I did the test Zafer suggested.  I drove around and abused the brakes until 
they were hot and the engine was hot too.  It was 96 this afternoon here in 
central Texas (blue norther my ass).  Anyway, when I got back home, it was 
slightly dragging again.  I loostened the brake line at the right front of 
the master cylinder.  A little fluid escaped.  I loostened the rear left 
fitting, and fluid shot out, and the car started rolling backwards (I had 
been leaning on the bumper.)  I tightened them both back up, and did it 
again after re-pressing the pedal.  Same deal.  I am now 99% sure it is the 
M/C sticking, or not allowing something to happen like maybe the hole to the 
res. is plugged.  Anyway, I'm certain enough to have ordered a new M/C from 
IPC this afternoon.  Second-day-air total came to 120.00 for the NEW OEM 
M/C.  Nobody has rebuild kits anymore I guess.  Oh well, If it is corrosion 
like I expect, I'll need a new one anyway.

I'll pop it on this weekend and let you know what happens.  (Un)fortunately, 
the weather is supposed to cool off before I get it done, so I may not be 
able to reproduce the test conditions.

Thanks to both of you for helping me.  I didn't know how to tell if it was 
this or sticking calipers.  

Now, when I do the bleed, it'll be interesting to see what's left of my 
previously relatively new pads/rotors.

 - Mitch Loescher
   (with the hottest rotors in Texas)