playing in the snow

[Henry Harper <hah@srv.net>]

Winter is finally upon me here in Idaho as of this past Friday. Cleverly I took 
the time Thursday evening to install the winter wheels on both cars as the 
first flakes were drifting down. Nice fat pads on the UFOs and rears, except 
for one front piston-side that looked a bit skinnier than all the others. Gunge 
on the guide pins! And the piston boot on the other side was reluctant to 
remain seated in the caliper body, thus presumably not doing its intended 
sealing action. A small problem to be dealt with at leisure, I think (as in 
several months from now when it's warmer).

The more immediate issue, I had thought, was an elderly bomb. Three quick 
stomps while driving gave rise to the BRAKE light, approximately that number 
after engine shutdown, can't really tell a difference in feel. Normal driving 
for me in this car is easy on the brakes, as much because I dislike cleaning 
dust off the intricate wheels as I want the UFOs to last as long as possible. 
So, equipped with Hakkas (on easy-clean steel wheels) and nice slippery roads, 
I endeavoured to test the seat-browning factor of ABS and bad bomb. But despite 
repeated full-ABS stops from as much as 40mph, no BRAKE light did appear, and 
stopping effectiveness was just dandy. I was for some reason reluctant to try 
higher speeds while still on [deserted] standard two-lane roads, haven't taken 
the time to play in a large-enough parking lot as yet. Just a few donuts in the 
mall lot :)

What gives? Can I put off the bomb replacement a bit more as well? Just "avoid 
emergencies"? Or is more testing required, at higher speeds I would expect. 
Awaiting the incoming wisdom.

TIA,
Henry Harper
http://www.srv.net/~hah
1991 200 quattro, 98k, 20k in one year, waiting for the defroster switch light 
to die and then I can fix them all at once
1988 GTI 16v, 186k, good thing I had a backup car since this one was down for a 
total of three months out of the 12

PS The twelfth monthly car payment goes out today, only 24 more. Purchase was 
October '97, but I've been late with my anniversary message. Apart from 
upgrades (snows, lights, stereo, Bilsteins) my "required maintenance" 
expenditures have been a) afterrun thermoswitch, $25 and b) battery, $65. 
Having this much fun should be illegal - oh wait, there was that one little 
piece of paper to that effect. Anyway, it's been a great deal so far, but I 
have been driving around with a cracked windshield for six months so I should 
count that as well.

=> Thanks, q-list! <=

Let's go skiing! Jackson Hole is 90 miles from my house, who wants to come 
visit?