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Date:         Thu, 19 Jun 2003 10:58:47 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Sullivan <gersil0@LYCOS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Sullivan <gersil0@LYCOS.COM>
Organization: Lycos Mail  (http://www.mail.lycos.com:80)
Subject:      Re: Spongy Brakes (Help!)
Comments: To: Blake Heinlein <blakeheinlein@YAHOO.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi Blake,

I would separate the front from the back. Pulling on the e brake should lock up the rear wheels. If this happens than look at your fronts. Some brands of disk pads feel spongy and some produce a more positive feel. My parents had new brakes put on their Jeep. The beast would not stop well and had no feel. Replaced the disk pads with a different brand and the Jeep brakes worked well.

If the e brake cannot lock up the rears start there. Brake cylinders, brake shoe movement, brake glazing are all suspects.

Now the question is why does English have break and brake? Sound the same, different meaning and different spelling. Oops not yet Friday.

Scot --

--------- Original Message ---------

DATE: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 13:21:58 From: Blake Heinlein <blakeheinlein@YAHOO.COM> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Cc:

>Thanks for the great thread everyone. I'm the original poster > >When I slam the pedal to the floor I can't get my wheels to lock up. That >the bad part. > >Here are the additional things I have checked now. > > >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. >-Checked all break rubber hoses to check for bulging or expansion during >pedal depression. (none) >-Checked function of vacuum check valve for brake booster in engine >compartment. >-I also adjust the rear drum brakes so the slightly drag. Still no effect >on the braking feel. > >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. The brakes will not >lock up. > >Here is what I think might be the problem: >-Front brake pads aren't set right. >-Not bleed properly. >-Brake booster needs to be replaced! :( I'm sure that's an expensive >one. The diagnostic in Bently says depress the brake with the van off and >then start the engine and the pedal should sink a little. It that happens >the brake booster is OK. My brakes do this so I'm hoping that the brakes >are OK. > >I hope that I haven't tapped all the ideas out of the list. :) > >Thanks for all the comments and help everyone. >Blake Heinlein >84' Westy. >Sacramento, CA >

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