Brake adjustment

[dtobler]

My 57 Bug has no brake pedal pressure. I looked it over and it has plenty of brake fluid and there are no leaks. I bleed the brakes and then adjusted them and then bled them again. It made no difference. The only thing I noticed on the front passenger side was the fluid came out in drips not squirts? Any ideas? Could the master cylinder be bad ? I would appreciate any ideas. Thanks.

[Eric&Barb]

When were the flex brake hoses last replaced?? If over 8 years or unknown, probably best to replace them all.
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[Eric&Barb]

[Eric&Barb]

Also would help to have some history of your VW. EG just restored it with all new parts or just pulled it out of a barn where is sat for 20 years.
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[redbug64]

I'm going through a similar thing with my 1954. On the '54 the slaves on the rear are at the bottom of the backing plate (not the top like later cars) and the fronts are at the back but also on the lower side of the backing plates. I'm thinking my issue may be specific to early cars.

All brake components have been replaced with new with the exception of the drum itself. This includes master and all 4 slaves, hard and soft lines, T fitting in the rear, reservoir, delivery line and grommet to the master, brake light switch.

I have no air in the lines (I've now blead though several bottles of fluid). I have drips if I open the bleeder on the slaves and good flow if I have a friend pump and hold. No air. I've also used extensively a power bleeder pulling from the bleeder screws on the slaves to no avail. We took a rear drum off and pumped and observed the slave moving a bit but not evenly and only really move around 1/8" on one side only at a time. Pedal just keeps going to the floor.

After seeing the post from Eric&Barb I'm going to try to adjust the stars to where I assume I can barely move the drum to access both adjusting stars and try to have a friend pump again. Beyond this, what else can I try If this does not work?
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Jason Arms
Fairfax, Vermont

1954 Standard Beetle
1965 Firetruck Red Double Cab
1975 Porsche 911
1984 Rabbit L
1988 Scirocco 16v
Random Toyota daily drivers because winter.

[VW_Jimbo]

To add to the great info above , the system has to be correctly set to be able to move fluid. You will also need to set the brake pedal freeplay, or at the very least check it. If that adjustment is off, the pedal will not travel enough to push the fluid. If too loose, the system only pushing a tiny amount of fluid. And if too tight it will push fluid but it does not allow the reservoir circuit to refill the master quickly enough, so you get a mixed bag of symptoms, that will make you scratch your head. You have to set the freeplay at the top of the pedal.

This is out of the later models but is the same for earlier models. It is all about obtaining the 1mm distance between the pushrod and the master cylinder. But you do the measuring at the top of the brake pedal. I use a 16 inch ruler. Placing one end against the bulkhead wall and resting the ruler on top of the pedal. Then push the pedal in slowly, while watching the measurement, until you feel the pushrod touch the piston. It is almost not detectable, so get sensitive!

Good luck!

Good luck!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Eric&Barb]

Sure would be nice to get an update from the OP. Looks like he/she was on thesamba last month.
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[VW_Jimbo]

[redbug64]

Hi Folks! I just wanted to check back in and let everyone know that I adjusted the brake pedal, put plumbers tape on the threads of the bleeder valves in the slaves as well as adjusted the shoes to have pretty good tension on the drums. Had a friend pump the pedal while I bled and I've got brakes now! I think they will require Some more bleeding but for the time being it stops around the parking lot and I've now got a new project. I need to adjust the clutch cable as I think I've put too much tension on it. It catches way high and doesn't feel like its fully engaging. I did it this way because it was grinding into first gear from a flat stop but it seems the car may just do this regardless of the clutch adjustment. We will see! I've uploaded a few cool shots from this morning just because I'm pretty excited to have this old girl actually moving around for the first time in who knows how many tens of yea

rs!
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Jason Arms
Fairfax, Vermont

1954 Standard Beetle
1965 Firetruck Red Double Cab
1975 Porsche 911
1984 Rabbit L
1988 Scirocco 16v
Random Toyota daily drivers because winter.

[Eric&Barb]

Threads of the bleeder valves do not seal. That tapered tip of the bleeder does all the sealing there. do make sure to install the rubber caps over the bleeder valves to keep water and thusly rust from seizing up those and you from shearing them off when trying to bleed them later on. Does not hurt to put a little anti-seize on the threads to keep them that much more protected from rust.

If you have a split case transaxle, you need to come to a full stop to keep from grinding first or reverse. Suggest reading your year and model of owner manual, it can save you a lot of time and $$. Those are available thru the "Technical" button at upper right of any of thesamba webpages.
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[redbug64]

Thank you Eric&Barb. I understand the threads don't seal the bleeder but they can allow air past while bleeding. This exact thing was happening while using my power bleeder. This was the reason for thread tape. It was recommended by a gentlemen from a Facebook VW group and I feel it was a good move.

Yes, this one has a split case. I stated before that it grinds when stopped, not when in motion , I understand there is no synchro for first or reverse. The transaxle would probably leave the chat if I was to shift it into first while in motion! LOL My old '64 would even grind in first occasionally and that had the newer style swing axle transaxle in it. I think it was just warn out. I've got a printed owners manual for the '54.
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Jason Arms
Fairfax, Vermont

1954 Standard Beetle
1965 Firetruck Red Double Cab
1975 Porsche 911
1984 Rabbit L
1988 Scirocco 16v
Random Toyota daily drivers because winter.

[Eric&Barb]