For my '91 S4, Phase I was replacing every known failure item and performing every maintenance procedure this board could suggest and ones that I could think of myself. Phase I complete!

Phase II was taking the car to Gerber Motorsport here in Seattle for alarm issues, power window issues, hatch release issues, headlight retraction issues, PSD flush issues, etc., etc. Piddly stuff that I was all too happy to pay thousands of dollars for. Phase II complete!

Phase III was/is ride height, alignment, new tires, right front wheel replacement by Group 2 here in Seattle. Phase III nearly complete!

Phase IV is front bumper respray and other minor bodywork by Haury's Collision in Seattle. Phase IV not even started!

My question has to do with the wheel replacement. I got a new/old stock Design 90 front wheel from Mark at 928Int to replace the current right front wheel which has a very slight wow in it. It did not come with the tire pressure sensor and I figured one just reuses the old one.

Due to a communication breakdown, my car sat at the alignment/tire shop for some time before the wheel replacement was attempted. At the final hour, the shop said they would not attempt to change the wheel out without new seals for the pressure warning gizmo on the inside of the wheel.

Is this normal procedure? I would of thought one would at least try to swap the old sensor onto the new wheel to see if it holds air or not. I'm not upset about buying new parts, I just hate finding things out at the last minute that with just a tiny bit of foresight could have been prevented.

Unrelated to this, I did disconnect the low pressure system but obviously the sensor gizmo still needs to hold air.

 

The shop just doesn't want to do the job twice because the tire won't hold air. Can't blame them, but they could have advised you of that when they took the job. The likelyhood of the old seals being re-usable is pretty slim.

Jim Mayzurk
93 GTS 5-spd

 

Kiesan,

There used to be a place called Foster Wheel in Ballard, phone # (206) 789-5353.
They can straighten your old D90. I don't recall how much they charge, but I had a CS and a CupII both straightened there. I think is was $150 and they did it while I waited.

 

Thanks man... these were my thoughts as well.

 

Fosters is not around anymore. My old wheel could of been straightened or repaired, yes, but 928Int sold me a brand new one for $250 so I went that route instead.

 

That's a bummer, the guy did good work. Screamin' deal on the new D90, just trying to suggest a quick fix until you go thte RDK issue sorted.

 

Foster has moved to Renton - saw their ad in Spiel a while ago. Check the yellow pages.