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Date:         Sun, 17 May 2015 16:34:54 -0700
Reply-To:     Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      1981 Brake Caliper Decision
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Hi all.

The back ground info is below, but here's the bottom line; I need to improve the braking on my '81 Westy. I suspect the rebuilt calipers I installed several years ago, never worked 100% correctly due to poor quality assembly or parts. i.e. one leaked right away. Image: http://tinyurl.com/lqsx4gf

My choices:

- upgrade steering knuckles, install a "Bigger Brake Kit" - upgrade steering knuckles, install new '86 + calipers etc. - rebuild a spare set of Girling calipers.

Is rebuilding the old style calipers a waste of time? Most of those cores are pretty old now, have likely been rebuilt at least a few times, and I've heard that some rebuild kits may not be of good quality. However. I have what may be a decent set of calipers I could clean up and rebuild.

Thanks,

Neil.

Since I'd been driving my '88 Westy the last while, I've since discovered that the brakes in my '81 Westy pale terribly in comparison. I had a Vanagon mechanic road test the '81 brakes. His first comment about them was something akin to 'they're crappy'. He also suggested it could be a caliper issue; I'd installed rebuilt calipers several years ago (along with doing a bunch of other brake work) The brake system is in otherwise good condition but the brakes just don't "bite" as well as my '88 brakes, there is considerable fade, pedal doesn't feel as hard as that on my '88. Rear shoe were is normal and even. I'm certain no air is in the hydraulic system. The mechanic said he'd run into a problem like this before. He removed the pads, and carefully pushed the brake pedal down to move the pistons further out in an effort to (reseat?) the piston O ring. He said this improved the brakes and that the issue had to do with either the piston position or the O ring itself (not flexing enough?)

-- Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>

1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>

Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>


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