Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:13:30 -0400
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: dragging caliper
In-Reply-To: <8D56E9A2-1389-4C1C-87F5-BBB727B7A5E2@gmail.com>
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I'm not sure exactly which type of caliper you have on an '85 so I'll make
general comments. There are two main spots where corrosion can cause a
caliper to seize up; the piston itself and the caliper bolts or pins that
it slides on. If the pins are sticking, but can be forcibly pulled out,
the rust can be scraped and sanded away and the holles cleaned out. A
round file may be helpful here. Relube with caliper grease.
A piston that is sticking can often be loosened up by simply moving it
back and forth a number of times after appying some penetrating solvent.
With the caliper removed from the disk, you can extend the piston by
pressing hard on the brake pedal. You must prevent the piston from blowing
out completely by placing pieces of wood of the proper thicknes where the
disk would be.
Then shove the piston back in using a big C-clamp or welding clamp or a
special tool baorrowed from your FLAPS. Repeat this process as many times
as you have patience for. Keep an eye on the fluid level in the resevoir
at the master cylinder, especially when pushing the pistion in.
This sort of activity seemed to be needed about once a year back in the
days that I drove Type 3 VWs here in the land of salt and rust.
Good luck,
Larry A.
On Sun, Aug 14, 2016 at 12:22 PM, Aaron <a.robinson.lists@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello all.
>
> I have an '85 sunroof "summer driver" (we're original owners) that mostly
> driven for summer berry picking excursions. It starts and runs fine, but
> last summer, after gassing it up and doing a couple of miles, I noticed a
> hot passenger wheel, which I believe was a dragging brake caliper. I just
> parked it and took another vehicle.
>
> It's berry picking duties are now over and I need to figure out how to
> move it 120 miles home after not being driven for 2 summers. What's the
> least expensive way to address the dragging caliper? I plan to move it and
> then decide whether to restore it or give it up, so I'm not looking to
> "invest" much into it.
>
> I'm comfortable with basic maintenance, but have never done more than
> pads/shoes/rotors/drums/flush on the brakes. Parts won't be available
> nearby, so I'd like to make sure I have what I need.
>
> Thanks!
> Aaron
>
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