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Well, I think I found my problem. I drove home yesterday with the windows rolled down and listened for the noise. It sounded very loud from the *rear* of my car and I was pretty sure the noise was coming from the left side. So when I got home I took off the left rear rim and saw a nice metallic powder on the axle/drum. I touched the axle nut and it MOVED -- gulp, not good! I took the nut off and examined the hub and things looked okay (I'm not sure if they were, though). I put the hub and nut back on and tightened it down to 253-ft/lbs (Bentley) and installed the cotter pin (yes, the old one was there but broke apart when I was taking it off). I took the car for a test drive and didn't get any noise but I didn't get her up to freeway speeds (50+mph). Every thing seemed fine. Then I turned the corner to my road and pulled a Phil (sorry Phil, but I'm in a weird mood now). I heard a weird munching kind of sound, saw my left rear tire shoot past me (I was traveling 15-20mph) and the rear end of my car dropped to the ground! I quickly stopped and, what do you know?, the studs stripped out of my drum! After the tow truck (thank you AAA!) put my baby in the garage for me I was able to do a brief inspection. The 1.5 oil sump did catch some asphalt and is dripping a small amount of oil. Chewed up the oil cover plate. Hmmm, a skid plate would've saved me here... The sump itself appears okay. The drum is surprisingly looking good. Scuffed, but okay. However, the drum will be replaced since it no longer has any threads to hold the wheel studs. The fender is crunched behind the tire area (where the mudflap is) and will need professional help. I am pretty confident I can replace the axle if need be. What should I look for when I remove the drum (haven't done that yet)? I can rotate the drum and I hear it scuffing the brake shoe but there are no "expensive" sounds coming from it. Tugging/pushing at the 12 o'clock/6 o'clock positions there is a minute amount of free play (too small to accurately measure with my digital caliper). Pulling/pushing the entire drum I was able to measure *about* 0.4mm of free play. In my state of being last night I couldn't find acceptable deviations in the Bentley so is this free play acceptable? What are my next steps? Phil, your input would be appreciated since you've been through this experience. Toby "Glad my gun is in Texas or I would've shot myself" Erkson air_cooled_nut@pobox.com <-- Please use this address for email '72 VW Squareback 1.6L bored and stroked to 2.0L, Berg five-speed '75 Porsche 914 1.8L, ORPCA member Portland, Oregon, http://www.pobox.com/~toby_erkson/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list or mailto:help@vwtype3.org