Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 20:44:01 -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: Brake Pads replacement?
In-Reply-To: <51996BD1.7030006@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
as brake pad replacement goes, on your 84 it's about as easy and obvious
as can be .
Like I always like to suggest,
'look first' then ask questions.
Make sure the rotor surfaces are fairly decent at least.
( there is always risk in 'just putting on pads' and not doing anything
to, or replacing the rotors.
If you getpedal pulsation or any weird symptoms in a while... toss the
new pads and do the whole job over right.)
drive those pins out ..that hold-down clip will come out.
Squeaze the pistons back, ideally with bleed valve open ..
it is common to have an outer piston be pretty stuck on the early type
brakes if the calipers are very old.
If all 4 pistons don't move back fairly easily, rebuilt calipers are in
order.
I often pry with a large screw driver on the face of the old pads ..not
on the rotor face.
do one side at a time only ! Extremely important.
on your new pads..I like to put Disc Brake Quiet on the back of them ..I
always do.
I put the tiniest tiniest amount of high temp anti-seize on the sliding
points at the edge of the pads.
barely any.
I also put some on the hold down spring clip where it touches the pins.
If there are shims..put them back in just like they were.
I can not change pads without at least changing front brake fluid .
Another subject kinda.
I am rather discouraged lately ...about people and vanagons.
I see peoplethat don't know how to operate the interior lights,,
that can't tell if the headlights are aimed very well,
that can't tell the shift linkage is terribly draggy,
that overfill the engine oil when the coolant level warning light goes
off ....just endless clueless stuff like that. .
People
that are brutal on how they move the shift lever and no idea they are
rough on things..
that drive with an originalcontinental 28 yr old tire on the the rear
that is in the active process of failing .and they don't know it ..
and easily could have gotten killed..and their spare was flat, and it
would probablytake them an hour to figure how to put the spare on anyway .
People that really should not be operating an 85 Westy ..
so ...be real careful doing brake work.
and without a level place to do the work..
I don't recommend doing it even.
and not having a lot of experience with brakes........... it's not
something you want to make even the tiniest mistake on.
And the front wheel brgs should at least be thought about, or checked
for play
when working on front brakes.
heck ..I can't even work on front brakes without painting the rusty
spots on the back side of steel wheels..
or the hub part of the rotorwith high temp black paint ...no reason for
all those parts to get all rusty.
thereis even a process to break in the new pads..
there is even the right way to use the brakes,
not just .............'push down on that pedal and watch the picture
outthe front window change' ...
Some people are so rough on their vans it's silly - jerking the
steering, on and off the gas, rough on the shifter .
etc. . Over-using the brakes, etc. And they don't know they are doing it.
I have yet to ride with a vanagon owner that is a really smooth driver.
and this is not even counting abuse, neglect and bad workmanship, just
how they are driven and operated.
it's flat amazing how these old machines hang in there considering what
they have to endure.
have fun, be safe, stay sane !
S.
On 5/19/2013 5:18 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
> My '84 needs its pads refreshed. Can someone point me to a "how to"? A
> shopping list would be helpful.
>
> (Camping season has just about started here in Central Oregon.
> Considering that I am driving a Vanagon, expect the usual flurry of
> queries about mechanical problems from me.)
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
>
