"TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns9845CE1A915DAtegger@207.14.116.130...
> "Nasty" <nastymychain@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in
> news:CTCQg.1709$Rr.1427@tornado.tampabay.rr.com:
>
>> Apparently for some reason, after 7 years and 130K miles, the left
>> front brake caliper and wheel decided to make contact. The top
>> outermost points on the caliper are making contact with the wheel but
>> not evenly all around. This happens with either of two wheels mounted
>> on the left front.
>
>
>
> Then both wheels are bent. And badly. Don't you feel it in the steering
> wheel while on the move?
>
>
>>
>> My wife clearly slammed into a pothole hard enough to dent the left
>> rear rim and ruin the tire. Could this same, or other pothole, have
>> done some damage to the front to cause this?
>
>
> Yes.
>
>
>> If so, what do I look
>> for? There's nothing obvious to my untrained eyes.
>>
>> Can I safely run the car with spacers on the lug nuts to move the
>> wheel outward about 1/8 to 1/4 inch?
>>
>
>
> Sure, until the excess offset wrecks the wheel bearings. What you
> propose is called a "Band-Aid fix", AKA "cover-up".
>
> You have something very, very wrong here. You do not fix this sort of
> thing by applying spacers. That is a very *bad* thing.
>
> You need to have a professional check out your ride. Something is badly
> out of kilter here. I think you have either two damaged wheels or
> (more likely) one very bent hub. It's a wonder your wheel bearings
> aren't howling.

Bottom line ( I hope) is the left front wheel bearing was shot. After R&Ring
it all is quiet.

Thanks for all the help and warnings. I do appreciate it.