http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage," '85 GL "Poor Relation"
>
My brake line story (and MTCW)
1. If you have the time - and a lift or good stands - go ahead and do all of
the lines at one go. They are a royal pain if you have to crawl under the
beast the whole time. You could even drop the gas tank and replace all of
your fuel lines while youre at it.
2. If you have the $ have it done by someone else. As far as I know, the
brake system on our vans is not some german secret and most shops should be
able to handle simple brake line replacement.
Now - my story
I blew out a line over Labor day weekend in maine (Saturday eve, of course)
So had to delay my departure until Tuesday when stuff opened up. Took it to
a local shop owned by my friends uncle (independent shop - limited van
experience). He was kind enough to squeeze me in between his other jobs and
had one of his guys replace the line - $60.
About 20 miles later the brakes were soft again and fluid was pouring out
from over the gas tank. Thought it was the other old line (next weakest
point?)
Took it to a shop in N. Conway, NH (recommended to me by Midas). They had a
guy they called their vnagon specialist look at it. We put the van up on
the lift and found that the new line was leaking at a joint over the gas
tank. The guy at the first shop had to join two lines together because he
did not have a long enough line to do it in one shot. But he put the joint
right over the gas tank so we had to disconnect the whole thing to get to
the coupling to tighten it. Moral of the story - put the damn joint where
you can see it to check it. Anyway, another $75 later and everything has
been fine.
Until the other day when my e-brake cable smapped - but thatıs another
story...
Good luck
Cory Sammons
84 Westy
99 New Beetle
Gardiner, NY
