[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] [New Search]
My 71 Squareback is giving me a devil of a time with the brakes. Please
bear with me if my account seems tedious. I am new at this, and have no
intentions on giving up on this car. My girflriend bought the type 3 a few
years ago, but never got around to do much to it. Over the past year, I have
fallen in love with it and want to see it running (healthy) again. Our first
problem is the brakes. Ever since it was purchased, the car veers to the
right. The brakes were done and redone, but it did not change. They were
not done by a certified mechanic , but they guy seemed to know what he was
doing.
For the past month I have been working with a mechanic friend of mine on
the brakes, and he has done a good job of ruining the car. After his first
brake job, we test drove the car, only to find smoke coming from the left
side. The spindle and bearings ceased. Got a spindle from a junk yard and
redid both sides (just in case). Drove it around town and about 5 minutes on
the freeway, with no problems.
Next day, my girlfriend drives it for only 15 minutes on the freeway,
and when she arrives, there's a LOT of smoke, and a bad burning odor coming
from the same side. Thankfully, the bearings and spindle are OK. However,
the brake shoes (pads) are getting stuck to the rotor.
I have been told I need a new caliper, and wonder if I should go new, or
get a rebuild kit. Also, the veering to the right problem is concerning me
much. I do not know if it is important, but the right side of the car is
much lower than the left. I have no clue how to fix it, what causes it, or
if it is somehow related to the car veering right.
I am sorry about my diatribe. Both of us are students and in a very
tight budget, so any solid advice will be appreciated. Also, after our
experience with our mechanic friend, we feel it is better to learn to do the
job ourselves and do it right.
Thank You
Patrick Allen
paddy01410@aol.com