Date:         Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:06:37 -0500
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Oh, what a feeling
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

it's always nice to do a repair job that

1) Doesn't require new parts
2) Doesn't require a torch
3) Doesn't require a hammer
4) Is over in less than an hour
5) isn't a hack.

Back in December shortly after having the GoldBrick get it's safety
inspection (it passed, but the inspector noted it would need brakes
soon...) I pulled up on the parking brake and it acted like it wasn't
attached to anything.

I've plenty of other vehicles, so there was no rush to find out what
the issue was. It was cold outside, and I could park in gear (most of
the time).

A couple of days ago I crawled under and took a look. Pretty obvious.
The cable from the left side (rear) brake and slipped out of the load
adjuster.

My first thought was the cable had broken (probably due to rust). But a
good look at it revealed no such issue. My next thought was the load
balancer itself had rusted enough to allow the cable end to slip
through. Nope, that wasn't it either.

So I sprayed some penetrating oil on the adjuster nut. Backed it off (a
vice grip on the shaft and a 10 mm crescent was all I needed). Nut
broke free without trouble. Back it down enough to get the cable end
back into the load adjuster bracket. Tightened up the adjuster nut
again.

Repair completed.

This makes me VERY curious about what the "safety" inspector was
looking at...and how.