David, you are quite right as usual. If the cable is not loosened before new shoes are fitted it is possible that the adjuster will not work. See Mike Snows post for the explanation. As a point of interest, a really big improvement to the 85 and older parking brake is possible. Just replace the parking brake lever and cover with one from a 86 and newer Vanagon. These have a longer handle for more leverage and twice as many click detents in the same lever angle range. The added detents mean you do not have to pull as hard to get to the next click. Another benefit is the newer handle is fatter and has a more comfortable feel. Wives will really prefer this upgrade. They may even actually start to use the parking brake. Mark David Beierl wrote: > > At 09:56 PM 1/15/2001, Ken Hunter wrote: > >I have new rear drums and brake shoes on my 82 Westy. The adjuster is screwed > >in all the way but the e-brake just won't hold. Duh, is it possible these > >cables have stretched over the last 19 years? > > Prolly not that much? I think it's more likely that the shoes are too far > from the drum. Did you clean out the adjuster mechanism, and adjust the > brakes to spec with the handbrake cable loosened (usually leaving it alone > should be ok, but if it's overtightened it would interfere with things, I > think). > > d > > David Beierl - Providence, RI > http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/ > '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage" > '85 GL "Poor Relation" |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.