Date:         Fri, 8 Dec 2000 12:22:11 EST
Reply-To:     JKrevnov@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Power Brake Bleeding
Comments: To: CTONLINE@webtv.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 12/8/00 11:26:37 AM, CTONLINE@webtv.net writes:

<< VW doesn't have a proportioning valve? >>

Terry,

Both the Vanagons (disc/drum) and the Volvos (4-wheel disc) I bleed this way
have proportioning valves.  I never have had a problem, but like I said, I
only put a few pounds of air to it.  One thing about the Volvos: there is a
double throw pressure switch (if you can imagine that one!) plumbed into the
middle of the diagonal brake lines.  This switch makes up if pressure is lost
in one or the other hydraulic circuits and turns on an idiot light to tell
you that you got problems.  With a Volvo, if one hydraulic circuit ruptures,
the other circuit will still operate one pair of caliper pistons (4
pistons/caliper) on each front wheel and one rear caliper.  I guess wonderful
people like my Sweetheart would drive around forever with only half their
braking system functioning if it weren't for that idiot light.  Anyway, this
pressure switch can take a set if I use too much pressure and it is a
pain-in-the-ass to reset.  If you never have seen one, take a look at one of
those pressure switches on a 240 sometime.  It looks like an octopus.

I guess that is more than you want to know about Swedish Valiants; hey, it's
Friday.

Rich