Date:         Mon, 4 Jun 2012 19:36:35 -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: front brakes
Comments: To: Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <4FCCFD57.1070408@flatsurface.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

re :
> I was pumping the brakes all the way down and going slow.
> Her front brakes were smoking  when we got to the bottom and I had to use
> the e-brake  when we parked.

Usually 'pumping the brakes' is what one does to get a high firm pedal
when the pedal isn't as high as it should be upon  initial application.
"pumping the brakes' is not how to do a big steep decent.

Perhaps the poster mean this anyway ..but the right technique is, use a
low gear so you have good engine braking,
then use the brakes some to reduce speed...then get off the  brakes, so
they can cool,
the brake some more ..........then let cool again.
  Like you use them a bit, let them cool  - off and on like that. Not
'pumping the brakes'.
Continuous light to medium use is not the right thing to do ...they
don't get a chance to cool using them that way.

if you had to 'pump th epedal'  to get much of a pedal, that was the
right thing to do  sounds like, and something is not right about the
brakes.
How old is the brake fluid ?
How low a gear did you use for engine braking ?

Scott