So today I decide to go to Helen, get my mind off my ex who decided to text message me about breaking up. I go up to brastown bald and to helen twice. On the way back towards helen (and home) the second time. I started to notice my brakes getting very mushy. I had worn them down very quickly. On the way back into Helen to head home, I noticed my car jerked a little to the left and right a few times. I thought it was the wind. Then shortly after hitting the brakes to slow down, there became a constant grinding. At first I couldn't figure it out, but I stopped to take a look around. I noticed the front left caliper was completely grinding on the rotor. It was tearing it up and there were metal scraps on some spots of the rim. I try to drive going 20mph with the hazards on, but the grinding was very uncomfertable and the car occasionly did the jerk. Trying to turn made the sound even worse. So when it became too much for me to try to drive it, I pull over to a Shell. Call dad, gives me insurance towing numbers, the numbers didn't work cause somehow the account number was temporay. Called dad back, dad suggests that I drive it back home slowly, I say no i'm not confertable doing so, he said he'll come try. Then as we leave and I'm driving behind him in another car, no more than half a mile, he had to pull over. The wheel itself looked like it was about to fall off. It went from the stock -0.3ish degree camber (looking like this: | ), easily to -15 degrees (seriously looking like this: / ). So we had to leave the car there becasue the insurance plan with the towing was saying that we weren't registered when my dad just paid the registration a few weeks ago. We were pissed at them. So in the morning I'll have to get it towed back to my house. I wonder how the heck that could have happened, what could have done this? I mean sure I drove hard, but I have driven up there plenty of times. Why now? I'll let you know tomorrow the extent of the damage. I can see that the rotor will need replacing because it was grinded down a very good bit. Looks like crap and very rough. p.s. what are stock rotor size (width). Cause mine came aftermarket when I bought the car.
it could easily be a bearing... however, if your pads are dead, u might wanna consider upgrading them if u intend to partake in spirited driving activities... also, when was the last time you changed the brake fluid? get something high temp... upgrading the fluid and pads will reduce the possibility of faded brakes and seized calipers
The failing wheel bearing most likely caused the pads/rotors an early death. With the failure you're describing there could be race (spindle) damage...
Dude I'll take you out for a beer man. Wait....you're not old enough for that are you? Ok nevermind, some hot cocoa then. Good luck on the fix and don't worry man, there are lots of chics out there and you'll find the right one. Just be yourself and don't try to be someone you're not. I'm goin on 5yrs with the same girl and we're good together. And that's after several other gfs. So it's all good, have a good time with life.
hnoes: at least ya got off the road saftely without ending up in the woods. :fawk:ya girl theres always better than what ya had and It will probably be one of her friends:naughty:. I just got my all my pads changed and front drums resurfaced.
So after we put the car back from the tow, looks like the angle of the tire went to +10 degrees. But it's finally on my driveway. After taking off the wheel: The wheel bearing was loose (that big gold nut that holds the wheel on the axel?). The caliper looks like it might be fine, but the rotor will defintally need replacing along with pads. The axel looks fine and hopefully I won't have to replace that. We are going start taking off the rotor / caliper tomorrow. Why? When I was repairing my transmission last june we forgot to put the pin on the bearing back on and I guess it just eventually came loose at this moment. I have driven it hard plenty of times since then though... Maybe I just drove tooooo hard last night. heh... =\ As for the girlfriend, it just seems to me all people my age want is sex. one night stands. That never flew with me. I always have wanted just to have one girl for the rest of my life. but I'm quickly over it since it was a less than a month relationship. And really, I dont' mind cause I don't make enough money taking her out all the time AND do stuff with my car
maybe a last update The wheel bearing (which is not the gold nut like i thought) was damaged. The bearings kinda fell out. The wheel housing (the largest piece, it's connected tot he strut) is also going to need replacing because some pieces have been chipped away. The axel (CV axel?) will also need repairing or relpacing because the bearing dosn't want to slide back on and i'm sure a new one won't want to either. Anyway, anybody know a good place to get cheap wheel houseing, wheel bearing, axel (does the gold nut that holds the wheel in come with any of these? if not one of these pieces too...), rotors, and pads? I need to work up on vocabulary.
Car-part.com great resource for used parts, if you feel comfortable using used parts. I located a 3.4 v6 to swap into my 89 4runner there with only 20k on it for 1700.00!
Finally got it fixed today. All that's needed is an Alignment. Spent around 700 dollars in all for replacement parts, including an Alignment which I have not done yet. I had to buy New Housing, New Bearing with New seals. Subaru of Gwinnett quoted me a lot for these parts, so I went to my buddy who works at a car shop and he got those parts from SoG as well, but somehow they get a little discount, which he passed to me. $450.00. From Autozone I got two new front rotors (stock size), with pads and gave em my old Axel for a new one (axel switch-a-roo was 60 bucks!). I noticed a big difference right away with the new rotors / pads. My old ones, which were cross drilled and slotted when I bought the car, are 1mm smaller than stock so there wasn't as much braking power. $202.xx So tomorrow I'll get the alignment and all will be well. I just need to dyno my car now!