Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (July 2015, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 2015 09:08:21 -0700
Reply-To:     Vincent Dow <ianvincentdow@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Vincent Dow <ianvincentdow@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: anybody done the brakes on 1982 gas westfalia?
Comments: To: "SDF ( aka ,jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
In-Reply-To:  <559B2E6C.3010907@turbovans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Scott, Yeah, sounds like it's more than calipers. I intend to replace the calipers and the flexible lines. I've been taking the brakes for granted on *Modesto* for years. There were so many other things wrong! The brakes were like a loyal soldier.

My buddy Nick is planning to drive down from the Bay Area and help me get this sorted out. He's got a lot more experience than me. He also hopes to borrow my van for awhile.

I'm going to run down Dennis Haynes' brake diagnostic list/memo starting tomorrow, when I get L.A. Housing dept off my back. D.H.'s breakdown is awesome. Exactly what i needed. I didn't have a starting point to figure this out. I went right away to the pads, as that's the only thing I've ever had go wrong.

You're all very helpful. It's appreciated big time. I feel like I'm in a bit of a hole (not just with the van.) I gotta stay positive and figure this stuff out one piece at a time. Brakes, and then shift linkage, and then crapped out Kennedy muffler, and then CEL. Then off to the smog shop....

On Mon, Jul 6, 2015 at 6:42 PM, SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott ) < scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> the pistons tend to get stuck ( siezed even ) in those early calipers... > in my experience especially the outer piston. > > just invest in 2 rebuilt front calipers. > > however...sounds like you have more than just a front brake caliper > problem. > > On 7/5/2015 2:17 PM, Vincent Dow wrote: > > Howdy, > Had the braking power seriously diminish on my 82 westy. What a bummer, we > were headed to San Luis Obisbo county, to bring the dog up to a beach (and > ourselves) > > Had to turn back to L.A. at Thousand Oaks. > > The brake pedal felt tall in the morning when we started out. 50 miles into > the drive, I felt the pedal bottoming. A couple pumps with my foot would do > the job, but I knew I was losing pressure. > > I got the wheel off, and am looking at the caliper. The flexible brake line > is attached to a bracket, that's under huge nut for the main big suspension > piece whose name alludes me. The one that's under spring tension. > > I'm thinking I have to open up the brake line and drain before I can even > get the pads out. Haven't come across a caliper like this before. Don't > like it. > > I'm wondering if I shouldn't rebuild calipers now. I'm seeing lots of pics > of nasty old ones. Brakes are important. Does this ring true to experienced > owners? Bit the bullet and rebuild the caliper? Or is that going overboard? > > > >


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.