Date:         Mon, 26 May 2008 20:32:08 -0800
Reply-To:     Troy <colorworks@GCI.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Troy <colorworks@GCI.NET>
Subject:      Master cylinder question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hi folks:

I'll stop talking about battery woes and move on to a new subject;)

Just finished up installing a new master cylinder on my 89 Westy as well as an Audiovox cruise control. Everything went fairly smoothly, and my homemade brake bleeder worked great. It was fun to finally get a chance to try it out. Puzzling thing to me is the brakes are now grabbing/engaging towards the end of the pedal travel, whereas prior to changing the cylinder out they engaged a little bit sooner, but would fade. I've got really good pressure, pedal is not spongy, so am I looking at a rear brake adjustment? Just can't figure out why a master cylinder would change where the brakes would engage.

From what I recall about adjusting the rear brakes, the star adjuster is turned until the brakes just scrape. Someone mentioned then applying the parking brake as well as pumping up the brake pedal to center the pads, and then readjusting. Is this the correct procedure? I've only ever tried this once.

I like to have the brakes engage at the first third of travel instead of the last third, and I believe pedal height comes form the rear brakes adjustment, but would like confirmation of this.

Thanks,

Troy