Volkswagen =
Bus, Vanagon,
Westfalia and Eurovan
Repair and Service =
Specialists
1535 Sir =
Francis Drake
Blvd., San Anselmo, CA 94933
Voice:(415) =
457-5628
Fax: (415)
457-0967
http://wagonworks.com=
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mailto:contact@wagonworks.com<=
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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing = List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf Of BRENT CHRISTENSEN
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 2:50 = PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Mushy brake pedal questionThanks Stuart:
>Brent, pull up the parking brake and see if you = get a firm pedal on the
>first pump. If so, = your rear brakes are out of adjustment. If not,
>you could try replacing all the hoses.Yep - this helps, so I did adjust the rears. = Problem is, the pedal is still mushy and the rear brakes are so tight they are now = dragging. Bulging hoses would not "pump up" would they? I = would think that they would swell and then shrink with each successive pedal = pump. The symptom I am getting is that the brakes will = pressurize after the first pump.
I am wondering if it might be the master = cylinder...??? If the seals were bad, it would act like this, right?
>Did you put the calipers on the correct = sides? It may be impossible to
>switch them on the = Vanagon, but be sure the bleed nipple is at the top
>of the caliper or you will always have trapped air.I only do one side at a time for exactly this sort = of reason! :-) Even if they were on the wrong side, I bleed = the brakes with an EZBleed and attach the drain hose to ball-type check = valve submersed in brake fluid.
Brent Christensen
Manager = Strategic Programs
InfoGenesis
www.infogenesis.com
(805) 681-8600 = xt. 414
-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart MacMillan [mailto:stuart@cobaltgroup.com]=
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 2:46 PM =
To: BRENT CHRISTENSEN
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Mushy = brake pedal question
At 4-6mm it is time to replace your rears = anyway. No special tools are
needed, just = patience. Do one side at a time so you have the other for
reference. Have the drum turned too if there is any = scoring or a ridge
on the outer edge.> BRENT CHRISTENSEN wrote:
>
> Well, my battle against the mushy brake = pedal continues...
>
> After completing a *complete* front brake job (new rotors,
> semi-metallic pads, caliper rebuild), I adjusted up the = rear brakes in
> an attempt to get rid of = excess pedal travel. The pedal feels
> = better, but it still improves after pumping once before stopping.
> Unfortunately, the car is now pulling a bit to one side, = and after my
> 12 mi commute this AM, I noticed = that both drums were HOT. Guess I
> tightened = them up too much. :-(
>
> How the heck am I going to get the pedal to feel better??? I = have
> bled the system to death (In fact I used an = EZ-Bleed and ran about 1
> qt of fluid through the system.) Even used the "wife method" with no
> sign of air in the system. No matter what I do, = the pedal still
> always seems mushy on the first = pump, then stiffens up to where it
> feels it should = be.
>
> BTW, = the rear linings have about 4-6 mm left, but are a tad glazed (I =
> didn't have time to change the linings) - also, = will a normal brake
> tool from a FLAPS work on = the Vanagon drum brakes (you know, the one
> = with the spring stretcher on once side and the spring
> depresser/rotater on the other side)
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Brent Christensen
> '89 GL Syncro Westy
> Santa Barbara, = CA
>--
Stuart MacMillan =
Manager, Case Program
800-909-8244 = ext. 8208Getting your share of the Net yet?
http://cobaltgroup.com
http://UsedEquipNet.com =