Brake!

[injac3p]

Having some difficulty understanding my bugs brakes. It is an all stock and newly replaced system. Sometimes the pedal hits resistance soon and it brakes hard, sometimes it his a little lower and brakes fine, and now it sometimes just about bottoms out (the pedal) and barely brakes.

Pumping the pedal once usually puts it back to firm and early braking.

Almost ran a stop sign because the pedal bottomed out and was only gently braking, had to use the E brake.

Thanks

[61SNRF]

Beetles require regular old fashioned brake shoe adjustments at regular intervals as they wear. This is normal and is part of the regular maintenance schedule.

As a note, new brake shoes will often wear quicker to start with until they conform to the inside diameter of the drums. I would expect it typical to have to check and re-adjust new brakes shoes in as little as 100-500 miles, then at the regular intervals from then on.

Check for any signs of fluid leakage all around the hydralic system. Make sure the fluid in the reservoir is full and remains so.

If all is okay then procede with inspecting the shoes for excess wear and then adjusting them through the holes in the drums. The brake performance and function should return to the same as when new after adjustment.
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An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[drscope]

X2.

Understand that unlike a disc set up, with drums any time you have wear the shoes are essentially farther away from the drum. That requires them to move a greater distance in order to make contact with the drum.

Shoes have springs which pull them back. Disc brakes don't really have that sort of a spring back system. So with a more modern disc set up, the pads remain out very close to the rotor all the time.

So it sounds as if you simply need to do a brake adjustment and get the shoes back out closer to the drums.

If you do that, you should then have a good firm consistant pedal again.

Your service manual should give you directions and pictures or drawings on how to adjust them.
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Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[injac3p]

I didnt realize that new brake pads would wear abnormally fast just after installation. I am at ~1800mi on them now. I will adjust them and get her all fixed up!

Thanks!

[beryl green'62bug]

Sounds like they need bled.

[drscope]

A low pedal means they need to be adjusted.

A spongy pedal means you have air in the system and they need to be bled.
_________________
Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[drs1023]

The OD of the brake shoes is made smaller than the ID of the brake drum - especially if the brake drums are a little (or a lot) worn. Until the two diameters match, you don't get full contact between the shoe and the drum. As this fit settles in, the friction material on the "high" spots of the shoes slowly matches the diameter of the drum. That's the reason the shoes begin to wear immediately. Not so much after the shoes actually fit the drum.

[uglyvw]

x2 on air in the system. A consitantly low pedal would indicate wear, but an inconsitant spongy pedal usually indicates air in the system. Check the adjustment at all the wheels, then bleed the system, should clear it up.