Bus Front Brakes: Safety Bulletin

LHG · Last edited by LHG on Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:02 pm; edited 1 time in total

This is the metal brake line between the two front wheel cylinders off a 67 bus. The inner part of the brake drum that holds the grease seal was rubbing on it. I'm glad I examined it closely, it was very close to failure.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

This is the area where wear is likely. This is good installation with the brake line very close to the cylinder. If it is up off the cylinder, it can rub on the drum.

_________________
Brian O'Kelly
Central Coast Chapter, CA - Vintage Volkswagen Club of America
www.centralcoastvwclub.com
www.facebook.com/groups/vintagevwclub/

durfeec · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject:

that line blew for the same reason on my first long trip on my bus. happened to be right next to a cop. she saw the whole thing. i went up and over the curb into an empty parking lot. smashed my brand new muffler.

she came over and asked what happened. i was like i have no idea. they just went out. everything was new. soft lines, hard lines, all new wheel cylinders, pads. i had no idea it was rubbing.

got a ticket for unable to stop in a sure safe distance. 2 points on my license. i went to fight it and because i had done the work and it was an old bus they didnt care it was because of a hole in my brake line. even though i missed everything and everyone.
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1960 Bus Panel/Camper

LHG · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:17 pm Post subject:

Here is a photo I found in the gallery.

The line here bows up a bit right where the drum is. I would like to see it contour down here closer to the cylinder.

_________________
Brian O'Kelly
Central Coast Chapter, CA - Vintage Volkswagen Club of America
www.centralcoastvwclub.com
www.facebook.com/groups/vintagevwclub/

mcarls · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:39 pm Post subject:

I had the same issue with my '63 after I replaced all the lines. Good thing my parking brake kind of worked! I'll always make sure to hug the wheel cyliner with that line and keep it as far away from the hub as possible in the future. Good idea to post this!!

kombisutra · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:42 am Post subject:

Great head's up. I've done a lot of brakes and have never had this happen. One would think the conscientious mechanic would both hear and feel the interference before the shoes were set to the drums, but therein, lies the rub... Wink

I will look closer at these lines in the future having seen your post here. Thanks.

cdennisg · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:14 am Post subject:

Good Catch. Thanks for the heads up. I am doing front brakes on my 57 right now, I'll be sure to double check that line.
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nothing

chrisflstf · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:27 am Post subject:

Need to watch the end where it comes out of the wheel cylinder also. It can be very close to the edge of the shoe. Needs a little bend there - but not much

mcarls · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:19 pm Post subject:

I didn't notice that anything felt odd while putting together the brakes on my '63, but it was the first time I had made the cylinder connecting lines myself, and I wasn't being careful enough. I assumed (due to lack of experience) that if I ran the line a bit away from the hub I'd be ok, not realizing the seal/drum hub is quite a bit larger in diameter and there needs to be lots of room. Stupid oversight on my part. Fortunately nobody got killed...! After I took it apart I was surprised that I hadn't noticed while I was putting it together the first time. And I've always wondered if others have made this same mistake.

sventinker · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:54 pm Post subject:

I'll be checking mine before I put her to the road again I just did my brakes and bent my own lines.
_________________
April 3rd 62 standard mgr/pw
374 North American equipment
Includes 6 popouts
025 Safety belts
195 Adjustable bench seat/backrest (until 1963)

LHG · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject:

To Summarize: Areas of Concern

#1 Make sure the bend over wheel cylinder is tight and clears brake drum hub.

#2 & 3 Clearance behind the springs needs to be checked.

#4 Top bend needs to clear brake shoe.

This example appears marginal in all areas from the photo although in person might be OK.

_________________
Brian O'Kelly
Central Coast Chapter, CA - Vintage Volkswagen Club of America
www.centralcoastvwclub.com
www.facebook.com/groups/vintagevwclub/

hazetguy · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:43 pm Post subject:

whoever bent the line in the above picture should not be doing brakes. the factory lines have numerous distinct bends so that they clear EVERYTHING (shoes, springs, wheel cylinders), and so they follow the stamping in the backing plate. these bends can be made by hand to factory standards. the one above is, to be polite, pathetic, not to mention unsafe. that's just bending so it fits inside the drum, and nothing more.
here is one i did, next to a factory original line:

notice how it follows a distinct path and is close to the backing plate when installed.

the springs should not rub on the brake lines, period. although i have never personally experienced the springs cutting a metal line, i guess it is possible if the line was not installed properly, or bent during installation at some time in the past.
_________________
thebucket: I invested in hoodride, now DBD won't return my call?
hazetguy: invested?
thebucket: Yeah Haze, its where people put money into a company in hopes of a return on their money

cdennisg · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:50 pm Post subject:

What is the exact length of a straight piece of hard line before bending for this area?
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nothing

jtauxe · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:02 pm Post subject:

Culito · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:29 pm Post subject:

When I re-did the brakes getting my SC running, I bought a kit (CIP1, maybe?) that had all the lines in it.
The lines between the wheel cylinders were too short, so they didn't clear everything. As soon as I torqued the bearings down and spun the drum, I knew something wasn't right.
I had to order those two lines from WW.
_________________
Copyright CJ Industries, Inc.
'64 standard w/2.0L type 4
'62 bug

EverettB · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:37 pm Post subject:

Harleyelf · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:20 pm Post subject:

I use a piece of pipe with a 1" diameter to set the radius on my bends.

tyzel · Samba Member Joined: July 04, 2010 Posts: 445

Are the ones from wolfs west (WW) pre-bent?

LHG · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:10 pm Post subject:

tyzel · Samba Member Joined: July 04, 2010 Posts: 445

hazetguy · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 9:04 pm Post subject:


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