Date:         Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:42:23 -0400
Reply-To:     greentabe-vanagon@YAHOO.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tabe Johnson <greentabe-vanagon@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: THANKS - Report (brakes)
Comments: To: musomuso@GMAIL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

About brakes:  First, since you can brake harder in the
dry than in the wet, a better test of the power of the braking
system is done in the dry.  You'll be able to push the pedal
further without locking the wheels.  However, a better test
of the evenness of the system is done in the wet, because
the sensitivity of the system is higher.

There are lots of factors that can affect which wheel gives
way first, including things not on the vehicle, like going
around a corner, the camber of the road, the road surface,
etc.  If the vehicle consistently locks the same wheel first
in many different conditions, then you can start looking at
tire pressures, tire tread, and suspension as well as the
braking system.

Realistically, on our vans, the only
things you need to worry about on the rear brakes are
that there are no fluids or lubricants on the brake shoes,
that the flexible lines are OK, that the slave cylinders
actuate smoothly and aren't worn, and that the return
springs are identical.


tabe johnson / 87 westy

>
> Date:    Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:19:55 -0700
> From:    neil <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: THANKS - Report (brakes)
>
> Hi all.
>
> First off thanks for help on brakes (bleeding)
>
> FWIW, I used the gravity method to bleed brakes. (no time to get parts
> together to build power bleeder) Did one wheel at a time. Went around
> twice. First time some bubbles came out the fronts, second time
> nothing but fluid. A few tiny bubbles came out drain bleeder on Pside.
> Regardless, getting them out really helped things. Much improved
> though pedal will still bottom out to metal if pressed hard.
>
> I hammered on the brakes (it's raining, so better for testing me
> thinks) and Dside ass end came around. Not totally, but enough to make
> me think rears are out of adj. Fronts have even wear and pads/rotors
> hardly worn at all. I'm taking it in to have a power bleed done and
> rear shoe adj. done as well.
>
> Anyways...
>
> Things are on track and if this work at "Beetle Spa" doesn't help,
> then I dunno what I'll do. Maybe a caliper/rotor upgrade??
>
> ;^)
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.