Fwd: New to list w/broken quattro (What else is new?)

[Sandy Duffy <sandyduffy@home.com>]

You wrote:
>Hey!  New to the list, although I've owned a '87 5Ksq for nearly 4 years now.

>1)  The exhaust system makes a rattling sound at low rpms.  Excuse my
>language, but it almost sounds like it is farting continuously.  When the
>engine revs over 1100 rmp, the sound goes away.

Could be a bad miss in the engine.  I there a noticeable loss of power?  Or
it could be a leaky exhaust systems.  Hold hand over the end of tailpipe
while the car is idling (preferably b4 the car really warms up...Ouch) and
see if the exhaust blows out the leak(s).  BTW if there are no leaks the
engine should stall.

>2)  After extended use (1 hour) the brakes become "hard"; the petal has
>little room for depression and the brakes are partially locked.  I think it
>is in the front because I was recently forced to continue driving like this
>for half a mile or so and the wheel was uncontrollably shaky even when not
>braking, but even moreso when pressing on the brake pedal.  I think that
>this is related to a bad wheel bearing on the drivers front side.  A year
>ago I was informed that a soft "clunk" I would hear on that side was the
>result of a "loose wheel bearing" and that I should bring it back when it
>started to "act up" (advice from Clark).  But, it also seems to be related
>to elevated engine temperatures, in that just idling the car until it gets
>quite warm without moving the car seems to exacerbate the problem.

You need to have your brake master cylinder replaced. (BTDT in a big way!)
This is a common problem.  You can buy a new one from Blaufernugen (see
vendor list) and have it installed or do the work yourself (if you have the
ability to work on the car yourself).  It is not a hard job but you do need
a pressure bleeder to accomplish the work.  I don't think your "clunk" is a
wheel bearing it sounds more like a tie rod end, lower suspension member or
CV joint.  Wheel bearings generally don't do a "clunk" kind of noise.

HTH

SAndy