Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:32:30 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear brake shoe replacment= crappy pedal now
In-Reply-To: <000e01c9216c$8ee92b40$4001a8c0@gateway.2wire.net>
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Double check that the adjuster is installed correctly.
From the archives:
http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0707C&L=vanagon&P=R11058&m=326874
In part sez:
"As for the adjuster itself it has two ends, both of which need to be
installed properly. One end looks like a split boat paddle with one
longer piece and one shorter piece. This end goes toward the emergency
brake lever. The longer piece needs to get on the inside of the brake
shoe metal plate and the shorter side is out where you can see it.
The other end looks like a squared off paddle that is much shorter and
squatter.
One side is square and the other side has a small notch cut out of it.
The squared side should be out where you can see it and the other side
should be behind the brake shoe metal plate."
I found the whole post was really helpful.
Re: bleeding/MC. Were you pushing the brake pedal to the floor when bleeding?
If so, a seal(s) *might* have been damaged due to piston/seals
travelling further than normal over old crud on cylinder wall.
Cheers,
Neil.
On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 6:17 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> I replaced the rear shoes on my 84. SBS shoes now. Had the drums turned,
> they are within spec. Replaced one wheel cylinder that was weeping. Bled
> the new wheel cylinder (LR), unhooked the Ebrake and adjusted the shoes so
> that I could just get the drums back on. Stamped on the brake pedal to
> center the shoes and did the adjustment again. Re-bled the right RR wheel,
> then the Left again. Re adjusted the Ebrake cables. Went on my local "test
> track" and did some slow downs, then some harder stops, wanting to 'run-in'
> the new brake shoes.
> So, a few stops felt ok. Maybe not very effective stopping, but I sort
> of anticipated that with the new brake shoes. Then, after a few harder
> stops, the pedal went lower, and the braking action now seems a bit
> inconsistent. I can feel +some+ braking action right from the top of the
> pedal stroke, but somewhat normal feeling braking gets going about 1/2 way
> down the pedal stroke. If I give a few pumps, that +somewhat normal+
> braking action moves up the stoke of the pedal to the top. When I returned
> to the shop...that first test drive and again after a longer drive
> yesterday, the back wheels were hot. Sticking your finger through the holes
> in the rims to the drum....Too hot to touch, after no braking action...Brake
> shoes are keeping some contact with the drums, me thinks...
> I then took the drums back off and re-checked my work. All looks exactly
> right. (I did one wheel at a time to keep the springs and stuff straight)
> The new shoes had a few spots where they'd 'burnished themselves', looking
> almost chrome-plated. The rest of the shoes were covered with brake
> dust...Not making very good contact..The drum turn job: They show no real
> indication of being smoothed by the shoes yet. Re-bled all four wheels, and
> re-checked the shoe adjustment...still some contact with the drums and when
> I move the adjuster wheel one or two clicks, that drag becomes quite strong,
> so I backed em off a couple of clicks and....
> I am kinda stumped. I push the brake pedal down and it feels like I have
> partial braking...enough for normal stopping...But when I stop aggressively,
> the pedal goes too far down before I get full braking..Something isn't
> right, me thinks.
> I expected better braking and a "good pedal" after doing the work, instead
> I got crappy brake action...inconsistent and hot rear wheels even without
> using the brakes...Anybody?
> PS: My brake MS is relatively new..last March..My fluid was replaced at
> the time of the new brake and clutch cylinder..
>
> Don Hanson
>
--
Neil Nicholson '81 JettaWesty "Jaco
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
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