Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2010 13:28:20 -0800
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: '91 Vanagon Brake Shoe Question
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
Hi Jason,
I seriously doubt that it matters a lot if the shoes are the same length
front and rear, or one is shorter.
Usually, all the shoes I have seen are shorter on one , compared to it's
mate on the same wheel.
Vangons are unique in that each shoe is dedicated to it's positions.
each shoe only fits one place.
It is not possible to put them in the wrong location if the are the right
shoes. There is only LR, LF, and RR and RF. period.
you don't count on the self-adjuster to take up all the slock initially.
You do that yourself initially ..
or I do anyway ...turn the self adjsuter star wheel until the drum just fits
on.
yank on the parking brake handle to settle the shoes, take the drum off,
tighten the star wheel a bit...
until the drum just fits over and there is a small amount of drag.
if you don't do that you'd have to apply the brakes or parking brake handle
many, many times to ever get the adjuster up to where it belongs. You need
to do sometimes many clicks on the star wheel to get it adjusted out
properly .
lube the points on the backing plate where the shoes slide, I use copper
anti-seize compound there.
and of course new wheel cylinders need to be properly bled.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jason Swan" <jason@SWANSONTHEGO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 11:25 AM
Subject: '91 Vanagon Brake Shoe Question
Hi all,
I just found the list after quite a few years with my Vanagon.
I've managed to muddle my way through most maintenance issues, but got
stumped recently. I replaced my rear brake shoes and wheel
cylinders. The cylinders were shot, and I did the shoes because I had
everything apart. Anyway, after replacing the shoes, I bled the
lines, and now I have to pump the brakes a few times before I get good
braking. In fact, the brakes act like they aren't adjusting at all.
No hand brake friction at all, and the brakes need to be pumped each
time. I did clean everything with brake cleaner and a wire brush when
I had it apart, and I'm reasonably confident that the self-adjusting
mechanism should work...
Anyway, since I don't have a ton of time, I took the van to a
recommended euro-auto mechanic who seemed to know what he was talking
about. After first telling me that it needed new brake shoes because
they were down to the metal ("funny" I said, "as the brake shoes have
less than 15 miles on them..."), then telling me I had the brake shoes
in the reverse positions (right shoe on the left, and vice versa), he
then told me that the shoes were improperly constructed because the
brake pads on both shoes are equal. He tells me there is supposed to
be a short side and a long side. If not, then the brakes won't work.
I bought the shoes at the local Advance Auto parts. I don't think
they were all that expensive. And, to be honest, after looking at the
old brakes (which both had shorter, but equal length, pads on the
shoe) I can't see how 1" less pad on the bottom of the shoe can affect
the brakes. But, this guy swore up and down that that was the
problem. I didn't have him do my brakes, as I had completely lost
confidence in him. But, before I get in there and see what else could
be the problem, I wanted to ask y'all if there is truth in this. Do I
need to go find some more brake shoes; a set with a short side and a
long side?
Thanks in advance!
--
Jason Swan
1991 Vanagon
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