Date:         Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:13:26 -0400
Reply-To:     Robert Downes <bobdownes@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Downes <bobdownes@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: is this MC rebuild kit for real?
Comments: To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net>
In-Reply-To:  <045401cc5b6d$99c85e30$cd591a90$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Thanks for the reply, Tom. Am i correct that your implication is that if i
am not equipped to accurately hone my cylinder and order new seals
accordingly, then attempting a rebuild is likely folly?

And Ed, i do indeed have a proportioning valve. funny that it is not
mentioned by Bentley. had to do some research just to find where it's
mounted. I am , however, not sure that it failure would explain all of my
symptoms. also, the internet seems to generally go by rust on the valve body
to indicate condition, and mine is quite clean.

-bob
'83 transporter diesel L 1.6TD 5sp--"Kid Cassidy"


On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 1:05 PM, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net> wrote:

> For most master cylinders you only need to know the bore size and the shaft
> size. What gets replaced are the cup seals & the rear seal and they are a
> common design.
>
> The same is true for wheel cylinders - you only need the bore size.
>
> Whether or not a cylinder can be rebuilt depends on the extent of any
> corrosion & the final size the bore is honed to after removing the
> corrosion. Some are just not rebuildable.
>
> Your problem is probably going to be some corrosion letting fluid bypass
> one
> of the seals until the seal wipes past that spot.
>
> You'll also discover that even in metric cars, most bore sizes are in inch
> dimensions.
>
> Thanks, Tom Hargrave
> www.stir-plate.com
> www.towercooler.com
> www.kegkits.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Robert Downes
> Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 9:27 AM
> To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> Subject: is this MC rebuild kit for real?
>
> first the question, then the story.
>
> i'm searching around for a master cylinder rebuild kit because i know they
> exist, and i've never been inside a MC before, and found
> this <https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1286333,parttype,1840>.
>  i am always skeptical of these all-parts-for-all-cars websites that list
> inventory from warehouse indexes, so i invoke the wisdom of the list: if
> these are appropriate, why cant i find them anywhere else? if not, does a
> kit exist?
>
> AND, why am i planning to get all up in dat MC you ask? well, i rebuilt all
> my brakes mechanical-wise about 18 mos/20k miles back and they have never
> been perfect. when i hit the brakes fresh, the pedal sinks a bit deeper
> than
> it should, if i push hard it will bottom out(but i can still push harder
> for
> more braking force). if, however, i pump once, release, and then brake,
> they
> feel normal. ...and then after about 5 seconds the pedal falls into the
> usual routine.
> it has never felt close to dangerous, i have never lost a drop of fluid,
> the
> condition has never worsened.
>
> well, i was recently rotating tires and poking around a bit in prep for an
> upcoming round of shop time, and noticed this: my shoes are about gone, and
> my pads look like they have not worn at all. is that normal? i remember
> buying the higher-end pads, and the rotors tell me that they're doing *
> something*, but they've a solid 1/2" of meat left. is this normal? i admit
> i
> only *assume* that it is not. the master cylinder is the last thing more
> complicated than a tube that i haven't replaced/renewed, so it's next.
>
> prove me wrong, friends!
>
> -bob
> '83 transporter diesel L 1.6TD 5sp--"Kid Cassidy"
> -----
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