Date:         Wed, 7 Jun 2006 12:56:13 -0400
Reply-To:     Don in North Carolina <vanagondon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don in North Carolina <vanagondon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Front brake caliper hangup '87 Vanagon- any advice
Comments: To: George Wietor <wietorg@yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To:  <20060607160841.45424.qmail@web52805.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 6/7/06, George Wietor <wietorg@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Van O'White's left front wheel is overheating and
> grease is leaking out.
> Pulling the caliper reveals that the bearings, rotor,
> pads, slider pins are all fine. Retracting the caliper
> piston with a C-clamp solves the problem ...until the
> next time brakes are applied....
> Should I replace the caliper? Attempt a driveway
> rebuild per Haynes? any advice respectfully and
> gratefully considered.  George in Grand Rapids.
> Pedalling to work as per usual.

George,

How old are your brake hoses?  I had one on one of the vans that had
gone bad internally, causing it to act like a check valve.  The
pressure from the master cylinder could get to the caliper, but it
couldn't release the pressure when the brakes were let off due to it
being too restricted.  Of course, I didn't figure out what was
happening until I replaced the calipers - oh joy!  Had to drain the
system again to change the lines.

--
Don in Reidsville, NC
1986 Kawasaki Concours
1988 Vanagon GL (Sylvia)
2001 Subaru Outback (H-6)
"I reject your reality and substitute my own." - Adam Savage