Date:         Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:55:09 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Weak Brakes on 86 Syncro
Comments: To: andysings@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

you got the syncro 5 years ago .......
and didn't change the brake fluid in all that time, until now ?

that doesn't bode well for what might be the current condition of your
hydraulic  brake components.

if the pedal doesn't come up with 'nice solid bleeding' ......
then you think of the master cylinder leaking internally between circuits.

however, it's not quite clear if your problem is low pedal,
or hard stopping effort.......like lots of pressure on the brake pedal,
regardless of height off the floor, doesn't slow down the van much.

there's a test for checking the booster.
might try that test, just to see what you get.

are the 'vacuum brakes' working at all ?
pedal effort is way high if it's not of course.
Scott


----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Morse" <andysings@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 7:17 PM
Subject: Weak Brakes on 86 Syncro


> I'm back! My Syncro has been basically used for dump trips and moving?
> things around the past three years or so. Yesterday I finally replaced the
> starter again, hopefully this rebuild is better than the last.(was sick
> and tired of whacking on the old one with a hammer) I also bought a new
> battery and cleaned up and grounds I could get too.
>
> For the past few years my brake pedal has had to be depressed nearly to
> the floor to slow down and stop. When I first got the van about 5 years
> ago I had to pretty good brake pressure at the pedal and over time I had
> to pump it a few times to keep the pressure up, eventually the pedal went
> limp on me, van stops ok and I can put it into a skid but not very
> reassuring and I've been dealing with it since.
>
> I'm not leaking fluid and I have bled the brakes with practically no
> results. Is there a power brake servo that's gone bad? Can master
> cylinders go bad without leaking fluid?
>
> Please give me some tests to carry out. Thank you!
>
> Andy in Delmar, NY