Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:44:18 -0400
Reply-To: Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Was: Mystery Loss of Power At Startup - now Adjusting Parking
Brake or Emergency Brake
In-Reply-To: <000101c65d02$f1e96380$6400a8c0@masterpc>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Yesterday, Dennis Haynes replied that improper adjustment of the parking
/ emergency brake could be the cause of the problem this thread raised.
He said he had explained this previously on the list and it was in the
archives. He didn't have the time to repeat it then.
Despite those naysayers who believe nothing can be found on the
archives, I found the procedure that Dennis describes for adjusting the
parking brake. In the process I also came upon a number of other good
tips for maintaining your brakes that Dennis has contributed over the
years. I must have saved 6-8 other posts from Dennis. Dennis is
consistent in reminding people that brakes need regular attention and
that the main reason some people think Vanagon brakes are bad is because
they haven't maintained their brakes well.
What I found follows:
First, Dennis' answer yesterday to a recent post:
If you adjusted the brakes after inspecting them, then something is
wrong there. They are supposed to be self adjusting. My bet is that you
adjusted them wrong and the brakes are dragging and after a short run
they are expanding and getting even tighter. Did you adjust the
handbrake after adjusting the star wheel between the shoes? If so, you
screwed up the works. I have posted brake adjustment procedures in the
past. Check the archives. I have to run for now, but if you need
instructions again, I will be happy to help you later.
Dennis
Search of the archives found this:
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Self-adjusting brakes? True/ False 88GL
Comments: To: Matt Sutton <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
If the brakes are assembled correctly and everything is working, they
are self adjusting. There are a number of things I always see that make
them not work properly.
Drum diameter must be in spec. Aftermarket shoes rarely have the full
thickness lining, new should be 6mm. Since the shoes only travel and
move at the top, these dimensions are critical. Did the old shoes wear
evenly? If only worn on top, then the drums are oversized. Hand brake
cable adjustment is done before installing drums. With shoes in place,
turn top adjuster to just take up the slack, do not push shoes out. Them
adjust cable linkage to have ~1/16" clearance at the arm. Work lever to
see that both sides are even. It's OK to have to pull on one side to
take up slack on the other but make sure the arms return fully when the
lever is all the way down. If the cables do not move freely and
consistently, it is time for new cables. I often add shims to the lower
shoe mounts to get the bottoms moved closer to the drums. I find 3mm
under each post usually works, even with new drums and OEM shoes. After
market shoes need 4 or 5mm.
After installing the drums, you can work the adjustment from behind the
backing plate to get things started. This will also adjust the parking
brake. If the parking brake does not work after this something is wrong.
Adjusting the parking brake cable after this will mess up the adjuster
operation as the lever can not return all the way home.
Dennis
And this from an older post:
Question 5 - The hand-brake adjustment was loosened for the procedure
and tightened again after. It felt ok, but after the rolling backwards
and braking, it was very high. Does this adjustment have to be done only
once the brakes have fully tightened again? Or was it something else I
did wrong?
Dennis' answer:
I adjust the cables with the drums off so I can see the slack. I adjust
to just remove the slack and take up the play in the lever on the shoes.
Tightening cables too much will keep adjusters from working also.
The end.
Hope this helps someone.
Sam
--
Sam Walters
Baltimore, MD
89 Syncro GL, Zetec Inside
85 Westy Weekender
85 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel - to become veggie oil powered
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