Wheel caught on fire?? *#$@

[8v-of-fury]

What would make the rear drivers wheel on a 94 jetta with discs emit flame from the rim after 25 minute drive?? I wasn't there personally.. Gf's sister drove to gas station got out saw smoke and then flame...

Brand new calipers and e brake cables back there... What's going on? I think ther bearing seized up and caught the axle grease on fire?

[the caveman]

Who ever did the brakes either didn't clean the pad mounting surface properly, or put both anti rattle clips back[ i don't to prevent this problem] , making the new pads stay stuck or hang up after pressed. Or they didn't push the piston back in enough, or put so much of improper lube that caught on fire when they got hot. Or they didn't notice the caliper handbrake function or cables are causing the piston to hang up. Either way ,someone didn't do
their job .

[8v-of-fury]

My brother and I did the brakes. He put the calipers and pads on, I put the cables and bled the system. The wheel spun free. There was no hang-ups last I saw the car.. Not to mention it made a 2 hour hwy trip just three days ago, post brake work..

What else could it be?

[8v-of-fury]

I think the bearing failed.. Musta got some dirt in it..

[R.O.R-2.0]

im still banking on the pads getting too hot and catching on fire..

we caught the brakes on fire on my friends 89 Pontiac LeMans.. all 4 wheels had flames coming out them. the plastic wheel covers were never the same after that..

and if it were a bearing, idk how she would not notice the GRRRROOOOOWWWWWLLLLLL coming from the rear end..

and the fact that the rear end of the car gets sloshy when bearings start going out..

and usually a wheel bearing will eat its self away, making lots and lots of clearance.. if its a bearing, you can jack it up and wiggle the wheel to tell the story..

[8v-of-fury]

Haha lol I'm at work right now, haven't seen the car. Just going by what she has texted me.. And then posting via my phone to figure it out when I go see it likely tomorrow.

[R.O.R-2.0]

let us know the cause of death when you figure it out!

[8v-of-fury]

She just informed me that the wheel "looks bent". Me thinks bearing failure...

[the caveman]

Boy if the bearing is that bad, she's lucky she didn't lose the wheel. Although having rear discs may keep the wheel on as opposed to a drum. let us know what you find. and tell her to get her hearing checked, or turn down the stereo

[R.O.R-2.0]

yea.. its bearings..

she was just deaf..

that bearing was grinding real good...

[8v-of-fury]

More of a bimbo then I thought lol

[R.O.R-2.0]

yea, apparently...

she brings a new meaning to "drive it till the wheels fall off!"

[the caveman]

man oh man...

[truckinwagen]

the bearing probably failed, causing wheel misalignment, which made the pads get really hot, catching on fire.

seen it happen with front end bearings on an el camino.

-Owen

[catlin_cava]

Bearing....Mine caught fire on teh GTI once lol.