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Re: [T3] Brake Problems


On 9 Aug 98, at 15:33, VWBRIAN@aol.com wrote:

> Help!!!! I've got a perplexing problem that I could really use some ideas as
> to what it could be. The patient is a 1970 Squareback with an automatic
> transmission. I can't get enough pressure out of the bleeders at the rear
> wheels! I've replaced the wheel cylinders, the rubber hoses to both rear
> wheels and "three" master cylinders. With the rear wheels off the ground and
> idling in gear, the wheels won't lock up unless I pump the brake pedal three
> or more strokes. I've bleed the system so many times that I've deleted the
> supply at the local parts store, it seems. One last thing, the brake
> adjustment is set and the emergency brake works fine.

Just a guess, but it's possible that someone has adjusted your 
emergency brake cables BEFORE adjusting the rear star wheels.

If this car is new to you, the first thing you need to do is loosen 
the E-brake cables and then adjust the star wheels.  Do the star 
wheel adjustment while turning the wheel by hand in each direction.  
Adjust each shoe until you can no longer turn the wheel then back off 
only as much as necessary to keep the shoe from touching the drum.

Do each star wheel in turn and then verify that the hydraulic brakes 
now work.  THEN and ONLY THEN adjust the E-brake cables.

The E-brake cables are properly adjusted when the  hydraulic brakes 
are correctly adjusted, AND the shoes do not drag with the hand lever 
all the way off, AND the hand lever will come up about 6 clicks (half 
way), AND the equalizing (teeter-totter) plate that the two cables 
anchor to is horizontal (equal pull on both sides) when the lever is 
pulled up.

There are lots of things that can go wrong with these parts:  sticky 
cables that don't retract, sticky wheel cylinders that won't allow 
retraction, weak shoe return springs that won't push the wheel 
cylinders all the way back in, rough backing plate that won't allow 
the shoes to retract, shoes not arced to match the drums, various 
parts missing or not installed correctly.
-
*******************************
Jim Adney, jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
*******************************

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