Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:04:19 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: How do explain this?
In-Reply-To: <BANLkTi=n2rOzVxUNQgrvhUZ9tBzZuQT7hA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I was about to say the same thing. Brake fluid under the middle of the
tranny is for certain the slave brake cylinder, as it is mounted up on
the side of the transaxle. This fail fairly frequently as they get old.
You don't have to replace them often, and in the years I have been
driving my vans, I have only done it twice - once on my '85 GL about
190,000 miles, and once on my '88GL at about 120,000 miles.
This would be a good time to do some maintenance on the brake system
that doesn't gt done that often.
I suggest getting a piece of clear plastic tubing from the local pet
shop tropical fish section and simply siphon dry the brake/clutch fluid
tank into a jar sitting on the ground. Dispose of the old fluid.
Replace the old slave cylinder, then refill the tank with fresh brake
fluid. Use DOT 4 for this - nothing else. Now bleed all the brakes, all
the way around. I use a piece of that clear plastic tube and flush into
a plastic soda bottle until it flows clear.
The vans don't get the brake system flushed enough and over time
accumulate water and dirt in them. The brake system should be flushed
and new fluid put in every two years.
In my own experience I do the following on my daily driver.
Brakes - every two years - flush system using new fluid.
Coolant - drain, flush and change every two years
Manual Tranny - flush and change every two years. (I use Redline MT 90)
Fuel lines - inspect monthly or each time the hatch is open, replace
every 5 years.
This has kept me out of trouble so far. Works for me.
Regards,
John
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 4/21/2011 12:10 PM, Steven Johnson wrote:
> Don't forget to check the clutch slave cylinder connection on top of the
> tranny as well.
>
> Steven
>
> 91 Westy
>
> On Thu, Apr 21, 2011 at 8:31 AM, The Bus Depot<vanagon@busdepot.com> wrote:
>
>>> I know my master cylinder was going south on me and yesterday
>>> my girlfriend called me to let me know that there was a large
>>> puddle of liquid under my precious Westy. When I asked her
>>> under what part of the Westy was the puddle she said it was
>>> kinda under the "wheelie thing" at the back. By that she
>>> meant the rear axle. So if the master cylinder failed, broke
>>> or whatever you would call it why would the brake fluid be
>>> there? Adding brake fluid to the reservoir and pumping did
>>> nothing, peddle just goes right to the floor with no resistance.
>>
>> Sounds like a brake line near the rear wheel failed.
>>
>>
>> - Ron Salmon
>> The Bus Depot, Inc.
>> www.busdepot.com
>> (215) 234-VWVW
>>
>> _____________________________________________
>> Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT
>>
>
