Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 14:53:19 -0400
Reply-To: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: waste no time rebuilding
In-Reply-To: <20040617165607.11977.qmail@web41308.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
i don't mind doing a job twice, the important thing is the interval
between changes i find multiple years to be okay at this point :). i've
rebuilt plenty of brake components in the past including parts that have
been is continuous duty service for about 6 years now. i have also
rebuilt rabbit/A1 chassis rear wheel cylinders during midnight wrench
sessions when i had to get to work the next day and no parts were
available. these units lasted for another 4 years just by using seals
from another used wheel cylinder with a broken bleeder valve.
what i am really looking for here is real actual experience with vanagon
brake master cylinder home rebuilds. i found a couple in the archives but
i would like to hear more if they are out there. i don't do rebuild brake
components because of bad personal experiences. my rebuilds tend to last
just as long or longer that professional rebuilds. the professional
rebuilders tumble the castings that they get and this opens up the bores
to much and damages threads and machined sealing surfaces. this is why a
lot of professionally rebuilt stuff leaks. most rebuilders just clean the
castings and slap a set of new seals in. i believe that the caring touch
and attention to detail can make a big difference in how rebuilt things
perform and are perceived.
jonathan
On Thu, 17 Jun 2004, gary hradek wrote:
> John, adding one last thing
> When it comes to the hydralics a good flush now
> and then is will worth the effort. New is best,
> rebuilt only if you are short cash or in a pinch and
> never ever try to rebuild yourself unless you enjoy
> doing a job twice. gary
> --- John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> > I agree here.
> >
> > Waste no time on rebuilds on small components. They
> > are a PITA!
> >
> > I had to replace the brake master, clutch master,
> > and the rear brake
> > cylinders. I went for "new" parts. No remanufactured
> > stuff. In my case I
> > got brand new from Ken Wilford at Vanagain.Com. In
> > other cases I have
> > gotten brand new from Ron Salmon at Bus Depot. I
> > have had good service
> > from both.
> >
> > I expect to keep my van a very, very long time, and
> > I hate having to
> > repeat an action on it, especially one that is time
> > consuming and
> > aggravating. Changing the clutch and brake masters
> > are not the easiest
> > tasks in the world, though not that difficult. But I
> > don't want to have
> > to go there again. I expect to get a lot of miles on
> > the new parts .....
> > more than on rebuilt stuff. So I don't like to use
> > re-built.
> >
> > However, as an old immigrant craftsman from the
> > "Eastern Bloc" in Europe
> > told me one time in a conversation " Do vot you
> > t'ink is right and maybe
> > it v'ill v'ork!!"
> >
> > But always carry spare parts just in case "it didn't
> > v'ork!"
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > John Rodgers
> > 88 GL Driver
> >
> > gary hradek wrote:
> >
> > >jonathan,
> > > Installing is an easy job. May want to
> > buy
> > >the right size brake wrench for the brake fittings
> > so
> > >you get a better grip on the fittings. Check
> > around
> > >for a local rebuild. I was in a pinch and got
> > mine
> > >at Kragens. Stilling going two years later. I
> > >think it is a lifetime master. Spend the extra
> > time
> > >you have bleeding the system and checking your rear
> > >cylinder. Oh yes, if you wheel cylinders are
> > leaking
> > >waste no time rebuilding. regards gary
> > >Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 02:30:45 -0400
> > >From: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
> > >Subject: Brake Master Rebuild
> > >
> > >so i would like to get the opinion of the people
> > out
> > >there that have
> > >rebuilt vanagon brake master cylinders. this is my
> > >situation, on
> > >monday i
> > >had to make a super panic stop with a load and
> > >internally blew the
> > >seals
> > >in my master cylinder. the history of the van is
> > >this. the master is
> > >probably factory (84). it worked well for the year
> > >that i pushed it
> > >hard
> > >including mountain passes and such. it showed no
> > >signs of internal
> > >bleed
> > >down before the sudden failure. the whole system
> > was
> > >flushed twice
> > >last
> > >year. one very through flush when i put the van on
> > >the road and once
> > >about five months later during a clutch master r&r.
> > >
> > >i drove the van with the internally leaky seals for
> > >about another
> > >hundred
> > >miles to get it home. i would guess that there is
> > not
> > >much pitting in
> > >the
> > >casting given the good performance over the last
> > year
> > >and the fact that
> > >it
> > >was flushed twice during that interval. my theory
> > is
> > >that the old
> > >seals
> > >gave out under the sudden drastic pressure, so this
> > >"should" be a
> > >decent
> > >core to rebuild.
> > >
> > >my question is if you have rebuilt a vanagon master
> > >cylinder how long
> > >did
> > >you get out of your rebuild and what did your
> > cylinder
> > >look like inside
> > >when you took it apart? if you have rebuilt
> > cylinders
> > >to but on the
> > >shelf
> > >for spares what lube did you use as brake fluid is
> > >hydroscopic and will
> > >attract water and promote corrosion?
> > >
> > >jonathan
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >__________________________________
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
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