Date:         Tue, 22 Oct 1996 15:33:12 -0700
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Lawrence Johnson <ljohnson@halhinet.on.ca>
Subject:      Re: 90 Vanagon with intermittent (brake?) hiccups -- H

MORITZC@garnet.cla.sc.edu wrote:
> 
> I have a 90 vanagon, which is having a funny problem.  Once in a
> while, while I am stopped for a while (such as at a traffic light),
> the van jerks just slightly -- as if I had taken my foot off the
> brake and then re-applied it, but faster than what I could do myself.
>  It also, occasionally, feels temporarily 'stuck' when I start up
> again from a light.  I'll be sitting at a red light, foot on the
> brake, and when the light turns green, apply the accelerator, and
> then it takes just a few seconds before the car moves at all -- as if
> it were sitting on something sticky and had to break free.  Neither
> of these things happens with any consistency -- it's once or twice,
> every few days.  I'm concerned of course, that it might be the start
> of something serious, especially since I have a hunch it may involve
> the brakes.  Can anyone give me any insights?

I think your hunch is correct.  It seems that your rear (drum) brakes
are binding and dragging. This would explain the small lurch after
braking to a stop (dragging brake reacting to stress when stopped) and
the reluctance to move after being stopped.

To test this supposition, after driving a mile or so (with minor brake
application) put your hand on the brake drum and feel if it is warm/hot.

Larry
'86 westy syncro