Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 09:27:18 -0700 (PDT)
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Thom Fitzpatrick" <thom@orion.tim.com>
Subject: Brakes
I went to bleed the brakes in my '56 bus last weekend, and I got a couple of
surprises.
1) When I looked in the master cylinder (before I started) there was
absolutely no fluid left. Does brake fluid evaporate? There was some in
it about 3 months ago, and it didn't have a cap on it.
2) With my SO pumping and the blleder open, it took a long time before
anything came out. Then I got splatters of air/fluid, then nothing.
I loosened the line at the master cylinder (which is real close to being new)
and I got a lot of air out there, and then some fluid. What's the deal?
After bleeding the air out there, I got decent bleeding out of the front
cylinders.
3) I only get an anemic dribble of fluid from the back bleeders, and I bled
the air out at the master cylinder like I did the fronts,, but still no luck.
I mean its just a barely perceptible dribble.
4) Part of the fluid i did get out looked like old milk. Like what you would
get out of a carton with the Lindberg baby's picture on it.
5) When I drove it afterward, it pulled so hard to one side it was
terrifying! (left, BTW)
6) The pedal seems reluctant to return to the upright position; it just kinda
moseys on up at its leisure. How do ya fix this?
So, where should I start? I'm in the middle of moving, so I am not ready
to spend a bunch of cash and time right now - I just want to get it driveable.
Is there some way to clean the lines out? Thats what I'm figuring I'll
have to do.
I know the basic principles of the braking system, and have replaced
cylinders and shoes before, but I have never had any probel with brake lines.
I have dealy with pulling before, but never this violent (and that is the
word for it)
Thanks in advance for any help
--
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: Thom Fitzpatrick Transamerica Info Mgmnt :
: System Administrator 1860 Howe Ave :
: tfitzpatrick@tim.com Sacramento, CA 95825 :
: fax (916) 921-6781 (916) 565-3346 :
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