Date:         Wed, 18 Jun 2003 06:55:38 EDT
Reply-To:     RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Spongy Brakes (Help!)
Comments: cc: blakeheinlein@YAHOO.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

In a message dated 6/17/2003 4:49:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

> Need some help with my spongy feeling brakes.  Here is what I have done.
> -Replaced front brake pads with metalic pads (about 2 yrs ago)
> -Replaced master cylinder (last night)
> -Bleed brakes using two person system, depressing the pedal and hold.  Open
> bleed valve and close before letting off the pedal. Repeat 20 times per
> wheel.
> 
> The brakes are still spongy.  As I depress the pedal it increases in
> resistance and then makes a tapping sound (like hitting metal) and then
> depresses more.  The brakes kinda stop the van but when I slam on them,
> it's a little scary, not producing a positive feel.
> 
> Here is what I think might be the problem:
> -The rubber brake hoses are old and starting to balloon.
> -Front brake pads aren't set right.
> -Not bleed properly.
> 
> Now, What do you think!  I need some experience.
> 

       I'm sorry I can't help but I have exactly the same problem and even 
gone as far as changing the master twice now as I thought I got a defective one 
the first time around.  I'm beginning to believe it has something to do with 
the vacuum booster.  Everything is new EXCEPT for the hoses, maybe they are 
ballooning.  I will change them soon and see it that's the problem.


Cheers  

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15, 2003
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/">IWCCC</A> & <A HREF="http://www.ccvwc.ca/">CCVWC</A>  
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A>  
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com