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JDEL Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010 Posts: 110 Location: Orange County Ca.
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:26 am Post subject: Vanagon brakes pulsing |
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I re-did my brakes on my new (to me) multivan. I put new front rotors, new brake pads, and new bearings on the front. On the rear I put new drums, new shoes and new brake wheel cylinders. After about 100 miles the brake pedal started to pulse when it was applied. So... I replaced the new rear drums (brembo) thinking they were warped. After 100 miles or so the pedal started to pulse again. Then I replaced the rear drums and the rear shoes. After about a 100 miles, the brake pedal would pulse when the brakes were applied. It is a pulse not a shake or griding at the brake pedal. Any ideas? |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:30 am Post subject: |
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Have them turned and trued.
Yes, have NEW parts turned. |
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Syncro Jael Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2013 Posts: 2204 Location: Utah
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:33 am Post subject: |
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Pulsing is a sure sign that something is OUT OF ROUND / WARPED.
I had my front rotors turned and it immediately had the pulsing.
It is strange yours begins after 100 miles? I would think it would be immediately. After mine did it, new rotors fixed my issue. Check your new rotors, maybe have them turned? _________________ 1987 Syncro Westfalia Hightop - NAHT
Subaru EJ25 Forged Frankenmotor, Triple Knob.
Jael = (Mountain Goat) |
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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5066 Location: denver
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:40 am Post subject: |
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Have you checked your rotors for play? After the initial installation, they can loosen up after a few miles and create pulsing. If there's too much play, you need to get in there and make sure the nut is snug.
Also, make sure your lugs are not over-torqued, that can also warp rotors and drums. _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Over torqueing will warp them for sure. |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:55 am Post subject: |
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Pull the rear drums and inspect the pads very carefully to see if any material has come off and is now on the drum surface.
It usually happens after driving in wet conditions when the brakes are hot and the the ebrake is applied and allowed to sit.
When the brake is removed and you start to move sometimes you will hear a slight pop, sometimes not.
Worth a look. |
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Jeff's Old Volks Home Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2011 Posts: 819 Location: Chester Basin, Nova Scotia
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:58 am Post subject: |
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Make sure the drums are fitting over the machined lip on the hubs. I also don't sell anything but Zimmerman or Brembo drums now. The Febi's or box store one will shake for sure.
Jeff _________________ www.jeffsoldvolkshome.com
2004 Jetta TDi Wagon
2002 Smyth Ute TDi
1990 Vanagon weekender Syncro AAZ
1987 Syncro Doka AAZ...soon to be TDI
2014 DL650ABS Xpedition
1986 Weekender Syncro (Under construction)
1987 Westfalia (Under construction)
1987 Syncro Single cab |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 8:01 am Post subject: |
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Zs and Bs are the good'uns |
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JDEL Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2010 Posts: 110 Location: Orange County Ca.
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:12 pm Post subject: brakes |
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I guess my question now would be why did the pulsing go away after I put the new drums on for about 100 miles if the front rotors were warped? |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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The pedal pulsates after you've been using the brakes for about 100 miles?
The answer is simple.
You don't have the rear brakes adjusted tight enough and the front rotors are doing all of the work--
Your getting the front brakes hot, and your heat warping the rotors.
When it cools down--no warp.
Go get the front rotors turned, the rear drums turned, adjust the rear brakes properly, and the brake pedal mambo will be nothing but a memory.
Forget about it. _________________ T.K. |
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BHChieftain Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2014 Posts: 38 Location: United States
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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insyncro wrote: |
Over torqueing will warp them for sure. |
I just purchased a 1990 Westy, new motor, trans, brakes, etc. Brakes were pulsing, read this thread and re-torqued the wheels, problem solved! (right before I purchased it I had the seller get the wheels spinbalanced, seems the tire place wasn't so careful putting the wheels back on.)
I'm not exactly sure what torque to use. The wheels are the gowesty, not sure which size (I measured the outside allow lip to lip, which is 17.25"), and I'm not sure if the lugs are stock or not. I used 90 ft lbs... let me know if you think I should make them tighter.
Chief |
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coclimber Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2013 Posts: 245 Location: Morrison, Colorado
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2014 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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BHChieftain wrote: |
insyncro wrote: |
Over torqueing will warp them for sure. |
I just purchased a 1990 Westy, new motor, trans, brakes, etc. Brakes were pulsing, read this thread and re-torqued the wheels, problem solved! (right before I purchased it I had the seller get the wheels spinbalanced, seems the tire place wasn't so careful putting the wheels back on.)
I'm not exactly sure what torque to use. The wheels are the gowesty, not sure which size (I measured the outside allow lip to lip, which is 17.25"), and I'm not sure if the lugs are stock or not. I used 90 ft lbs... let me know if you think I should make them tighter.
Chief |
I just had GW BIGGER-BRAKES installed on my van last week and now my brakes pulse too. That said, I contacted GW about torque specs since I also have their alloy wheels... so regarding your question on GW wheels, Mike W. told me 95 ft/lbs, NO more or their alloy wheels will be damaged. So, 90 is probably fine...
Mine are torqued to 95 and the pulsing is still there. Oh well! _________________ '83.5 Westfalia Camper - SOLD
'86 Westfalia Weekender
2001 Subaru Legacy 2.5L donor
Rocky Mountain Westy kit |
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vanaru Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2005 Posts: 169 Location: Sykesville, Maryland
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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:16 pm Post subject: bearings |
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Check your front wheel bearings... too loose will also cause a pedal pulse under braking... _________________ 1962 sunroof beetle
1982 porsche 911 SC
1991 vanagon WRX powered |
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coclimber Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2013 Posts: 245 Location: Morrison, Colorado
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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:11 pm Post subject: Re: bearings |
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vanaru wrote: |
Check your front wheel bearings... too loose will also cause a pedal pulse under braking... |
Thanks for the heads up on that!
I have a 2WD, so the GW 2WD-HUB-KIT was installed including all new front wheel bearings, etc., etc... at least I know the parts are new. That said, Blazer Automotive, the installer, is one of the best Vanagon shops in Colorado, so I'm guessing a simple thing like loose wheel bearings is not the issue. But, alas, we will leave no stone unturned! _________________ '83.5 Westfalia Camper - SOLD
'86 Westfalia Weekender
2001 Subaru Legacy 2.5L donor
Rocky Mountain Westy kit |
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Jake de Villiers Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 5911 Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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I've found that if I don't tighten the rear wheels while they're still in the air, the drum can be pushed up a tiny bit and give the pedal sensation you describe.
Years ago I figured out that if I torqued the wheel nuts in the air, the pedal pulse doesn't rear its ugly head.
YMMV, etc. _________________ '84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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coclimber Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2013 Posts: 245 Location: Morrison, Colorado
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 10:18 am Post subject: |
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Blazer Automotive found the issue and fixed it. It had to do with the rear drums they installed. Again, I had all brand new parts on both front and rear. You never know what quality you'll get with products these days! Glad it had nothing to do with the GW BIGGER-BRAKES _________________ '83.5 Westfalia Camper - SOLD
'86 Westfalia Weekender
2001 Subaru Legacy 2.5L donor
Rocky Mountain Westy kit |
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