Date:         Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:24:13 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Brakes Stuck.
Comments: To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <d1ea9acf0712191217q264198d0uddac61c921f6da9b@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi,
 Assuming your problem is about a stuck parking brake, and not something
hydraulic, two things come immediately to mind - draggy rusted cables that
don't return, or shoes stock to rear drums.  
 You can 'sort of' access the cables ( their forward ends ) under the
vanagon.  You could even loosen the adjuster there, in case your parking
brake handle isn't returning.  Check what the switch is doing on the parking
brake handle.  See if it's getting properly depressed.
  If it's stuck shoes, sometimes I've unstuck those by backing up, and also
by whacking the edge of the brake drums from the outboard side ( wheels off
) until things start to move.

Never park any car long term with the parking brake on.  Especially in
winter. 
Scott 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
craig cowan
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:18 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Brakes Stuck.

Hello. I spent some time playing around with my bus today, it starts and
runs. I drove it around the block about 2 weeks ago and it ran as expected,
but now the brakes are stuck. If i go to disingage the hand brake i still
have the red brake light on, and the car won't move very well at all. I've
worked the lever, but the brakes seem to be stuck. Is this an expected
occurrance? Is there an accepted procedure for freeing up what i assume to
be the rear drums?
Thanks again.

-Craig
'85GL