Date:         Wed, 6 Jun 2001 22:02:05 -0400
Reply-To:     Miguel Calvin <mcalvin@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Miguel Calvin <mcalvin@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Brakes, still soft after bleeding - Help!
In-Reply-To:  <B7430A57.3939%mcalvin@mac.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Well, I took the wheels and drums off today and discovered that the right
wheel was way out of adjustment.  The left needed only a few notches.  No
signs of leakage from the wheel cylinders but lots of brake dust, especially
on the right side.

There is some improvement but the pedal is still soft.

I will take Unca' Joel's advice and bleed lots more fluid through them
tomorrow and also check the flex hoses, (thanks puzerewski).

Thanks for all suggestions.
Miguel



on 6/5/01 10:14 PM, Miguel Calvin at mcalvin@MAC.COM wrote:

> My brakes have been a bit soft for a while, (one pump of the pedal would
> firrm them up), so I tried bleeding them today.  I used a vacuum bleeder kit
> and did them in order from farthest to nearest the master cylinder.  I used
> fresh DOT 4 fluid to keep the Master cylinder resevoir above the min. line.
> I bled each wheel until I got clear, clean fluid.  I closed each bleeder
> while vacuum was high to ensure no flow back. I used about a 1/2 pint of
> fluid.
>
> Now my brakes are softer than before.  What did I do?
>
> Master was rebuilt last year and rear wheel cylinders were replaced last
> year too.
>
> Pedal is kind of mushy until about 2/3 down where it feels and sounds like
> it hits something solid.  It goes a bit further but is much firmer. Real
> braking only starts when it gets to this firmer point.
>
> Help!
> --
> Miguel

--
Miguel