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Brake fluid is highly hygroscopic (attracts and carries moisture from the air). Brake components are chiefly ferrous metals. What happens when ferrous metals and H20 get together? That's right, RUST. Further, having water in your brake fluid can lower the boiling point of your brake fluid, and cause your brakes to fail during long, hard applications (going down a mountain). Flushing/swapping your brake system flushes out the normal wear particles and the moisture that accumulates in your brake fluid. If you want to be anal retentive (I do) flush them once a year. It takes about 15 minutes and costs <$10. I use a whole quart to flush ALL the crap out. Your 'soft pedal' failure *could* be fixed by flushing (it has done it once for me). For me, it was (apparently) particulate trash in the master cylinder; made the seals fail to seal completely. Can't hurt to try. Let us know what you find. G. Matthew Bulley Bulley-Hewlett Corporate Communications Counselors www.bulley-hewlett.com Cary, NC USA 888.468.4880 tollfree "I, the undersigned, shall forfeit all rights, privileges, and licenses herein and herein contained, et cetera, et cetera . . . fax mentis incendium gloria culpum, et cetera, et cetera . . . memo bis punitor delicatum!" It's all there, black and white, clear as crystal! -Wonka
-----Original Message----- From: Mike Harrnacker [SMTP:vanagon@IFREEDOM.COM] Sent: Monday, January 24, 2000 1:00 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: flushing braking system Everyone - I seem to remember something about needing to flush the braking systems on our Vanagons roughly every two years. What is this supposed to do for you? What happens if you don't do it? My 89 Vanagon is currently having a problem where the pedal is soft initially, but pumping it brings the pressure back up. I am wondering if I should flush all the lines when I get this problem fixed. Anyone want to hazard a guess as to my immediate problem? My money is on the booster.
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