Well I bled the brakes as advised and the problem went away.  At least
for a few days...  Now the pedal is slowly getting softer each day.
Again I can pump it twice and it firms right back up.  The pedal also
doesn't keep falling once it reaches its firm point if I hold it down.
I am assuming air is entering my system somewhere.  The only problems I
had when doing the work below was a slightly leaking rear drum cylinder
if the piston comes out too far and I also accidentally dropped one of
the front calipers and it stopped hard hanging by the flex line.
However over these few days I have checking that front line and there is
no fluid leakage and the reservoir has not dropped at all.

Any ideas?

Kurt
87 Wolfsburg GL

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Kurt Camealy
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 1:27 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Very soft brake pedal unless it is pumped?

I just replaced my front bearings (requiring removal of the calipers)
and my rear brake shoes.  When I went to test drive the car the pedal
went almost to the floor and then slowly stopped the van.  I followed
the Bentley exactly on the rear drum adjustment.  I even tightened the
adjusters until there was drag on the drums then backed off a couple
clicks.  The emergency brake works great as well.  The system was never
opened in the front or rear so what is going on?  If I pump the pedal
the travel is greatly reduced and it firms up to stop the vehicle.  It
also doesn't appear to sink after pumping until the next time I go to
brake.  I am leaving for a trip tomorrow and have no clue what is going
on?

 

HELP!

 

Kurt

97 Wolfsburg GL