Date:         Sun, 25 Nov 2001 12:32:42 -0500
Reply-To:     Vanagon Man <puzerewski@MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Vanagon Man <puzerewski@MSN.COM>
Subject:      Serious brake question

Volks,
I am having a brake issue with my 81 that is truly puzzling.  I have done
brake work on several vanagons, and seem to get good results, on one van i
know ofjust touch the pedal and you will hit the window!!!!!  However on my
personal daily driver my brakes SUCK!

Here is what I have done.

 New pads/rotors both sides including new pins and pad plates
New rubber flex lines on all corners
New rear brake springs
New rear pads and drums
New master cylinder
Rebuilt brake booster

As you can see, you name it, i have replaced it, and they still suck.

Last Tuesday i pressure bled the system, and same result.

Here are the symptoms.  Pedal is not harm or firm......spongy.  I have done
a complete fluid change with the same results....nothing seems to be
leaking.   The rear drums are adjusted, and the e brake holds on the third
click.

The only thing that i can think of is just maybe the brake adjusting
mechanism is backwards.  There is no good pic in any of my repair manuals of
how the forked end on the adjustment bar goes..........I only do one side at
a time when i do brakes, so i did not mismatch parts, although a previous
owner may have..............If anyone has a pic of a correctly put together
set of brake shoes on the rear of a vanagon, please send it on...i might be
bale to see how that fork should go.

They should stop on a dime, and they do not.  It feels like i need to pump,
but pumping does not help.  hold them to the floor and they never "lock up"
any ideas would sure help.......other than that my van is running great!!!
I do a lot of mountain traveling, and thus need better brakes.

Adam P
81 westy (3 of them)
74 beetle
73 Transporter (at paint shop!)
70 Single Cab  "Whitey"
Vanagon Partsmobiles