Re: [T3] Dragging Brake or Bearings

[Greg Banfill <vwparts@vintagewarehouse.com>]

<x-flowed>Vicky and Ray Basch wrote:
> My 71 squareback (automatic, FI) is running fine, but after I drive it 
> for about 15-20 minutes it acts like the brakes are dragging.  I just 
> relined the rear brakes and checked the front pads and they're fine.  
> When I jack up the car and rotate the wheels by hand, they're okay.  
> Could this be something else like a bearing about to freeze up?
>
> About 15k mi ago, I replaced the front bearings, races, oil seals and 
> had the rotors machined.  The car sat for about 10 years before I got 
> it and I had to unfreeze the engine and get it running again.  What I 
> have not done is anything with the rear bearings.  The unusual thing 
> is that when the car has sat for a few hours it starts down the road 
> fine, no dragging sensation. I start to notice the dragging at about 
> 35-40 mph, then when I slow down, the car will come to a stop as if 
> the brakes were partially on.  Could the inner or outer rear bearings 
> be on the verge of freezing?
>
> Ray
> Windsor, CA
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Could be bad soft lines.
If they are bad after you give them a few pumps they will retain fluid 
at the cylinders causing them to drag.
Do a walk around once you feel the dragging and fell the hubcaps to see 
if you have 1 or more hot ones. That will be where your problem lies.


Greg Banfill
Vintage Warehouse
Santa Rosa , CA
707.291.7606
http://vintagewarehouse.com


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