Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:54:12 -0800
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Proper Brake Pedal Feel/Travel?
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Hi all.
I've owned one Vanagon. I know what an outright "wrong" pedal feels
like but not what a proper Vanagon brake pedal feels like. Like from
0-10, 2 -3 = normal driving pedal pressure, 10 = total stain yer pants
panic stop pressure, pushed at level 7, my pedal eventually stops
against what I assume is metal. Brakes fine otherwise. I've done lots
of work on them (* below)
Does this mean air in system? Should a good pedal NEVER bottom out?
Like pushed to 10, should it feel like it's up against something solid
but not bottoming out against a stop of some kind?
To ensure air not the culprit, I pressure bled them. (finally built a
pressure bleeder. Used one-man valve before). Pressurizing reservoir
with air to 12 PSI, I saw a steady stream from all bleeders, NO
bubbles, no change in pedal feel over previous method. Of note, fronts
bled noticeably faster. Used ~ 3/4 litre.
In archives, these caught my eye: Rear wheel cylinder position (early
MY) and brake switch(s) air bound. (MC replacement)
Again no point of reference, but for some time it's seemed that my
pedal requires slightly more than normal pressure required to activate
brake lights.
I replaced MC not long after buying Westy. I don't recal bleeding the
switch. How is this done? Likely that info is in archives.
It drives with no *real* issues. I just want to be sure there's NO air
in system.
Thanks for taking time to read.
Neil.
* AFAIK, only parts not replaced over last few years: hard lines from
MC to calipers. Proportioning valve. All replaced parts still ok.
Over last few years (calipers + related not long ago)
- Booster, (check valve too IIRC) pedal cluster rebuilt, MC. Checked
push rod spec.
- Flex hoses, calipers, pads, hardware, rotors/bearings
- Drums, shoes (Raybestos deluxe) hardware, cylinders. From prop.
valve to rear, all steel and flex lines
--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
