TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:32 am

I just recent adjusted and bled my brakes to get the proper feeling back in my pedal. Coincidently, my button on my emergency brake has been very hard to push in. I work with a lot of finagling.....

Any easy things to look for here? Strange enough, I've never had the handle apart.

Thanks for any help!

Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:51 am

Pull up on the handle as you press the button.

Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:35 am

If it is an aftermarket chrome handle, replace it withan original German one. Tom

Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:55 am

Thanks for the responses...It's German and seemed to work fine when the brakes were out of adjustment?

Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:12 pm

It sounds like at one time the E-brake was adjusted without the brakes shoes being adjusted first.
You want to have around 3 to 5 clicks when you pull the E-brake handle up.

Past experiences I have had on unknown vehicles has been to check for slack in E-brake cables before adjusting brakes.
Not much slack just so that there is not pressure on the adjustment nuts against the handle. (easy to spin cable partway)

Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:28 pm

Turns out I have a bit more of a problem. I bleed the brakes because for some reason, I lost pressure.

After 24 hours on a fresh bleed, my pedal is going soft again and it seems I have a leak somewhere.

Besides looking for obvious leaks. What is the process of searching for a brake system my pressure problem?

Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:23 pm

First thing I look at is there fluid inside of boot on master cylinder, meaning a bad cup in it.
Second thing I look at is for dampness on backing plates. Bad wheel cylinder.
Always change in pairs is cheap insurance. Meaning if one is bad in rear or front change other side.
Also check all hoses to see if ballooning.
Have also seen main brake line that follows tunnel to rear, rust out near pedals and by torsion housing.
Some of this checking out, it does help to have a pedal depressor or a second person for stepping on pedal.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:57 am

On the ebrake, I had to squeeze the bottom of the brake handle in with a vice so the rod would not fall in the crack and get stuck. Works perfect.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 7:53 am

Thanks Murz......

Joe....seems one of my three prong brake light switches is leaking from between the prongs. That explains part of the problem.

Thanks for the help.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 11:06 am

It not to often you see a brake light switch leaking.
Not common at all.
Last one I saw was years ago, forgot about even seeing it.
Do you know what brand it is or where it was made?

Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:36 pm

Joeseph,

I'm not sure of the brand. I had a bit of fluid inside the boot and the base of the switch was bone dry?

I'm drove the buggy away 150 miles for the 4th and I'm going to have to order up parts to fix it next weekend. Right now I rarely drive the buggy farther than AAA can save me.

I'll report my findings next week.