Jeb
Well-known member
Something I experienced might help you not experience it.
Several weeks ago, I was driving across the Lake Ponchartrain bridge when I heard (and felt) a 'bang!' that sounded like a tire blowing out. Since you cannot stop on the bridge unless everything else fails, I slowed down and tapped the brakes...just a little. When I did that, the car immediately jerked to the right and I heard a grinding noise. I stopped using the brakes and nursed the car another three miles, got off the bridge and went another half mile until there was a good place to pull over.
When I got out and looked at the car, I saw that the RF tire was indeed flat but that didn't explain the grinding noise I heard when tapping the brakes.
I opened the hood and shined a light on the RF wheel and suspension and I immediately saw the problem.
One of the long bolts holding the brake caliper on had somehow worked itself loose and the entire caliper swung down and made contact with the inside of the wheel which cracked the wheel, allowed all the air out of the tire, and generally caused havoc.
The wheel was shot so I needed a new wheel and the tire was trash, so I needed a new tire but the caliper was fine and after re-attaching it, the car was fine. Oh, I also found out that the spare tire's rim had a small crack and would only hold air for about 45 minutes, which surprised me because pressure was up less than 2 weeks earlier when I was doing my occasional check out of the car's systems - including the spare.
So, when you're under the hood making things all clean and shiny, take a moment and check the torque on those two bolts which hold the brake calipers in place on each side. Be sure to check the AP in your spare also while you're under the car shining the mufflers. :eyerole
Several weeks ago, I was driving across the Lake Ponchartrain bridge when I heard (and felt) a 'bang!' that sounded like a tire blowing out. Since you cannot stop on the bridge unless everything else fails, I slowed down and tapped the brakes...just a little. When I did that, the car immediately jerked to the right and I heard a grinding noise. I stopped using the brakes and nursed the car another three miles, got off the bridge and went another half mile until there was a good place to pull over.
When I got out and looked at the car, I saw that the RF tire was indeed flat but that didn't explain the grinding noise I heard when tapping the brakes.
I opened the hood and shined a light on the RF wheel and suspension and I immediately saw the problem.
One of the long bolts holding the brake caliper on had somehow worked itself loose and the entire caliper swung down and made contact with the inside of the wheel which cracked the wheel, allowed all the air out of the tire, and generally caused havoc.
The wheel was shot so I needed a new wheel and the tire was trash, so I needed a new tire but the caliper was fine and after re-attaching it, the car was fine. Oh, I also found out that the spare tire's rim had a small crack and would only hold air for about 45 minutes, which surprised me because pressure was up less than 2 weeks earlier when I was doing my occasional check out of the car's systems - including the spare.
So, when you're under the hood making things all clean and shiny, take a moment and check the torque on those two bolts which hold the brake calipers in place on each side. Be sure to check the AP in your spare also while you're under the car shining the mufflers. :eyerole
Jane Ann
