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Date:         Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:24:54 -0700
Reply-To:     Keith Hughes <keithahughes@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Keith Hughes <keithahughes@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: New brakes and pedal question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Since the distance traveled by the calipers is very minimal, the somewhat larger caliper pistons shouldn't be noticeable in the pedal height. I installed the Big Brake Kit from Van-Cafe last year, along with their HD drums and steel brake lines and all hydraulics. The rear shoes were SBS brand, and were simply junk. The lower mounting "tab" fitting into the lower pivot was too short and so the shoes touched only at the top of the lining. As a result, they needed adjusted every couple hundred miles or I lost my pedal and had to pump up to stop (naturally, I was on a trip right after install). After 10 adjustments in 3K miles, I threw them away. The replacement shoes were significantly longer at the pivot point attachment (~3/8"). Problem solved.

IME, the rear brake adjustment is the determining factor for brake pedal height if the system is properly bled.

Keith Hughes '86 Westy Tiico (Marvin) ------------------------------ Date:    Tue, 9 Sep 2014 17:07:20 -0400 From:    Project Pat <psdooley@VERIZON.NET> Subject: Re: New brakes and pedal question Front brakes I assume? Is the piston bore of your new calipers larger in diameter than the old? If so, in theory this would make the brake pedal travel longer. Other thoughts would be rear brake adjustment and air in the lines. And old hoses.  Maybe they are swelling under pressure.  Probably not, as the failure mode for hoses tends to be ID restriction and resultant dragging brakes.


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