Date:         Sun, 30 Mar 2003 15:20:02 -0600
Reply-To:     Jeremy Speer <jspeer@POBOX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeremy Speer <jspeer@POBOX.COM>
Subject:      13 Year old Brake Fluid
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Folks,

I just returned from my Vanagon Guru's place where we purged and bled
all the hydraulics. We ended up flushing a full quart through in search
of clean fluid at the bleeders. The color of the brake fluid was darker
than coffee at first... and took many pumps to run clear.

Despite the fresh fluid, the brakes feel pretty much the same.

The clutch, however, is a different story. I got into the van and
pressed the clutch pedal as i always do prior to starting the engine. It
fell to the floor like it was not attached to anything.

"Whoa, is this supposed to feel like that?"

"Start her up, see if it's disengaging."

Sure enough it worked perfectly... the clutch pedal in my van has always
put up a bit of resistance, which i thought was normal. But after the
bleed, although the pedal feels loose and sloppy at first, the point
where the clutch begins to grab is much clearer and exact. What's even
better there is NO SHUDDER at all when i start off in first gear. GREAT,
i thought.

Well, it didn't last. By the time i finished the 54 mile drive home the
clutch seems to have "degenerated" back to it's pre-bleed state. The
pedal provides more resistance, but the exact point of engagement seems
more approximate... and if i'm not careful it shudders terribly when
starting from zero.

Air creeping in somewhere? Failing master/slave cylinder? The slave was
replaced just about one year ago, but not by my Vangon Guru, so it might
be suspect. Anybody experience this sort of behavior?

Thanks,

-jspeer
'89 Westy GL, "Mystery Machine"