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Wed Mar 17, 2010 1:30 pm

Came home from work in my 60 bug and felt like it was dragging a log! Came to a stop light and noticed smoke from the left front area. At first , I thought it was the polluter in front of me but when he pulled away I noticed it was me! Since I was a few blocks from home , I kept going. When I pulled in the driveway and parked smoke was billowing from left front wheel. I got the water hose and sprayed and boy, it was steaming hot! Won't have time to check till this weekend. Pedal felt unusually hard so I think i got a brake hanging up. Let you know what I find.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 1:39 pm

Sounds like your adjusters spun or something and has your shoes rubbing hard. Im thinking if it was your master it would have both fronts held unless your pass. side is way out. Back off the adjusters all the way and pull the drum, take some pics, post em up and that will help alot. You got it right though its really rubbing.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:02 pm

Rapidly cooling the metal by hosing it probably wasn't a good idea.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:05 pm

Vinnems wrote: Rapidly cooling the metal by hosing it probably wasn't a good idea.

Agreed.
Good chance of warp city, man.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:36 pm

If the rubber brake hoses are old they may have swollen internally. They can act like check valves when this happens.

Jake
65 Beetle

Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:06 pm

Probably right on the warp issue but another drum won't be a biggie. Smoke by the gas tank causes one to panic ! :lol: Sunday it comes apart. I'll take pictures with drums off before disassembly for all to see. Maybe something will stick out.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:11 am

Just finished working on a buddys 66. Smoking brake passenger front.

Had to back the adjusters off 6 clicks of the adjusters to get the drum off.

Everything looked ok....except when he gently pushed the brake pedal the brake cyl didn't budge. Removed the wheel cyl....no fluid coming out of the tubing....

Removed the flex hose....tried to blow through it....Nada....plugged up!!!

Replaced both front hoses, easy job, bled the brakes all back together, put the brake adjusters back the 6 clicks....

Perfect brakes....

Jim

Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:47 pm

I'll check that out. Since I was in the garage today, I jumped in and pressed the brakes and they felt normal, a little give and solid. I released it and pressed again and the pedal did not budge! Like pushing a rock ! Can't wait to tear into it!

Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:49 pm

Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:51 pm

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Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:52 pm

Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:54 pm

Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:59 am

Replace ALL the rubber brake hoses, don't skimp. Check the wheel cylinders for sticking but this should be a brake hose issue. They swell internally and as the poster above noted become check valves only letting fluid through under pressure then holding it.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 5:14 pm

Tore it apart, see anything that stands out? Saw some glazing and grease needs to be redone.

I'm going to replace the hoses both sides, thanks for the idea! Can I check brake action without drums on, or am I asking for trouble?

Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:56 pm

I had a similar problem with my 67. I replaced everything twice, still didnt fix it. Even the seasoned pros at my local vw shop were stumped. It turned out my relatively new master cylinder was leaking internally and building pressure in front of the piston. It was fine when I started driving but the rear brakes (especially the driverside rear) would get smoking hot. Keep it in mind if all else fails. I spent a lot of time bleeding and replacing parts till i decided to start back at the begining.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:20 pm

I can't tell for sure, but, do you have your return springs mixed up?

Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:23 pm

I'm pretty sure I'm correct here. Heavy spring goes on the brake cylinder side of the shoes. Lighter pulling spring holds the shoes in the adjusters.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:58 pm

was just looking in the workshop manual, and your springs are reversed

Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:13 pm

You guys are awesome! Hope that does it. Still changing hoses. Can I try brakes without drums on?

Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:14 am

1960vw wrote: Can I try brakes without drums on?

Sure. Just make sure to put a drip pan under the wheel cylinders for when the pistons blow out past the rubber caps and brake fluid goes everywhere.