Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 09:49:58 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [WetWesties] Another Rear Brake Saga
In-Reply-To: <86476e250903312042m2b485d57y930040884daf2cd1@mail.gmail.com>
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On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 8:42 PM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
......
> This is what was
> found:
> The adjusters had been lubed with something that had solidified and they
> wouldn't rotate (to do the adjusting)
> The brake shoes on both wheels were cracked!! And had little wear on them,
> they hadn't been doing much braking.
> One shoe on each side was not even worn over about half the surface, the
> curvature of the shoe was wrong!!
> So I have new brake shoes on the rear now, the adjusters are now freed up
> and properly lubed.
> And the whole brake system has been flushed and bled. The brakes are much
> better now.
> Now, how did this happen? Well, two parts to that. First, the work was
> done by a shop (not a VW specialist) that I trusted (and still would if they
> were still in business but gone along with a lot of other independent shops
> hit by the US car makers marketing schemes about four or five years ago).
> Probably the first mistake I made was supporting my local shop. I'd priced
> out all the parts for a complete brake rebuild front and rear if I ordered
> from one of the online vendors. I gave this number to the owner of the shop
> where I'd have the work done and hed checked with his local suppliers,
> probably most parts from NAPA. His numbers were close enough that I had him
> buy the parts instead of ordering from a trusted Vanagon parts vendor. I'm
> assuming that's how I ended up with the weird brake shoes that didn't
> actually fit. Second, the bad 'lube' that froze the adjusters. That was
> probably the mechanic in that shop, a young guy that although working under
> the supervision of a good mechanic got ahold of the wrong lube.
Hi Loren.
I also had cracked shoes, though they were the correct ones:
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/DSleadingshoewiped.jpg/DSleadingshoewiped-full;init:.jpg
Only about 2-3 YO, very low km's on them. No overheating issue. Just
poor quality shoe. I installed Raysbestos premium shoes. Uncle Joel
posted info on them including the PN.
If I find the manufacturers name of the "bad" shoes, I'll post it.
Sorry can't recall right now.
Ken just posted about the rear shoes. For those attempting their own
install, check the archives for his "how to". Excellent stuff. i.e. It
clearly explains how the adjuster is installed. Something Bentley
doesn't clearly show in the images IMO.
Neil.
--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
