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Date:         Fri, 27 May 2016 21:13:44 -0700
Reply-To:     Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solved?? Re: further measuring of new GW brake shoes vs old
              generic brand shoes
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY405-EAS342F3E1AFF9CD4FFED86186A0430@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Thanks Dean. Will give that some thought.

Dennis; Thanks. Yes, larger wheels may happen someday. Maybe.

I have the McMaster shims on hand. The shoes I replaced were wearing over most of the shoe. The lining on shoes before that had cracked but I assumed this was due to faulty material. Image: http://tinyurl.com/j9yy9xs But then I knew less about brakes at that point.

The interesting part is that with either the GW or Dura shoes, and nearly all the new hardware, the brake pedal does feel different. e.g. I can fell the brakes start to grab slightly close to top of pedal as I push. I"m really hoping though that I didn't do any damage to the master cylinder which is fairly new. While making the adjusters work, the pedal travelled fairly far. I'm sure it's my mind playing tricks on me (or my foot) but it almost feels like the pedal slowly sinks when pushed medium hard. I have kept up on brake fluid changes.

I recall scraping away rust flakes stuck to the axle housing face and at point where plate meets the hub but not around the outer edge of that face. Am hoping that spray painting the backing plate with several coats didn't "push" the plate further out. Or worse, that I overtightened the axle nut thus brought drum closer in. In measuring new to previous drums, it's highly likely the old drums were Zimmerman as are the new drums. There was no inspection or adjuster plug installed on old plates running previous set of drums.

Neil.

On 5/27/16, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote: > Upgrading the front brakes means larger wheels so they can fit. > With the 503L shoes after you run them for a while you can shim out the > lower shoe rests. When you check them later you will see the wear at the top > only and with any heavy braking they will overheat and possibly crack. > > When you fitted those new backing plates did you file-grind the rust ridge > away from the bearing housing? Did you get the plate to sit perfectly flush > before bolting? The shoes sitting tapers indicates the backing plate was not > properly seated and when bolted in place it became distorted. Might also > explain the rubbing and damage to the inspection plug. > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > Neil N > Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 2:05 AM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Solved?? Re: further measuring of new GW brake shoes vs old > generic brand shoes > > I dunno. It's all just such a giant crap shoot. Aftermarket parts I mean. > Like you'd think there would be standards like ID of new drums, shoe lining > thickness etc. that work in harmony. > Hypothetically speaking, if a brake parts maker is going to make shoes > better suited to the Vanagon, like closer to OEM, one would hope that same > company would make both the shoes, drums, hardware etc. > > Yes, I'd think that I'll have a less than ideal contact patch, initially > anyways. > > I think the real issue with the pre '86 brakes, for me anyways, is brake > fade. > > I have the later style steering knuckles. That may be the next project > though its just a bunch more work. > > The good part is I've learned, I hope, a fair amount. The current shoes are > still bedding in but pedal height is getting closer to normal. It was nice > to hear both adjusters working. > Reinstalling the GW shoes is not really an option it seems; I just couldn't > get them to fit w/o having them heat up even when brakes weren't being > used. > But maybe my lack of experience with brakes is the issue. Hard to say. > > Neil. > > > On 5/26/16, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote: > >> The only down side is that with those aftermarket shoes you get to >> have lousy brakes. Not having the full surface of the shoe contact the >> drum means less effective friction surface. There is a good chance >> those drums you have are tapered. I have had bad luck with drums being >> the correct dimensions so many times I only use ATE or the GoWesty HD. >> Turning new drums to make them round and true also makes more room. >> That pictures looks like you may have had some drag on the backing >> plate. I have seen that with poorly machined drums also. >> >> Dennis >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On >> Behalf Of Neil N >> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2016 2:52 AM >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >> Subject: Solved?? Re: further measuring of new GW brake shoes vs old >> generic brand shoes > > >> Shoe lining thickness in each shoe brand: 6 mm. > > -- > 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> >

-- 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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