Stefan- Sounds like you need two things...new rear shoes/hardware, and some lubrication/movement in the parking brake cables. It sounds like the cables are pretty corroded/stuck in their housings. Slick 50 Spray, and some working them back and forth should loosen them up. Follow the cables under the van to where they go into the housings. Spray there, and work the brake up and down. It also sounds like one or more of your brake shoes may have separated or has fused to the drum (not un-common if stored with the brake set). Plan on $100+ for shoes, hardware, and possibly drums. MAKE SURE you drain and pump out all of your old brake fluid, (and clutch fluid) and re-fill/bleed in new. The old stuff is full of water by now, and has probably started you brake parts toward rusting. SWAP YOUR FLUIDS. Cheers. G. Matthew Bulley Director Bulley-Hewlett & Associates www.bulley-hewlett.com Cary, NC USA 888.468.4880 tollfree
-----Original Message----- From: Stefan Weir [SMTP:WEIRSTEF@CS.COM] Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 6:51 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: HELP!! Big Bad Brake Clunking Noise As some of you know i recently replaced the engine in my '82 Diesel and it was in storage for almost two years. The brakes *seemed* fine for a little while, but now when i back out of my driveway there is an awful clunking noise when I hit the brakes. I can also feel a vibration in the pedal. At times the pedal feels soft and other times it is very hard. The noise appears to be coming from the driver's side rear wheel. It is dark now and I will look it over tomorrow. Just wanted to see if anyone had had a similar experience. Also, probably related, sometimes when i go to release the parking brake, it doesn't release. I have to give it gas and then a POP! and it is released. I hope no one tells me I need to replace all my rear brakes...I am a college student who just paid for a new diesel..... ....but I do like to stop. Thanks Stefan |
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Vanagon mail messages have been archived.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.