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nacradriver
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2009
Posts: 760
Location: Ventura, CA
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 Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 2:26 pm Post subject: Name That Repair |
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Have this leak that I'll be looking after soon and want to get an idea on what to be looking for once I get into it...
Not the caliper as there is no leaking on the backside, and the brake pedal is firm. It is only on the left front wheel.... thinking the dust cap may be craped out... suggestions?
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Güdrun -1989 Westfalia - 2013 - 2018
Petra - 1985 Vanagon - 1985 to 1991
Zisa - 1974 VW Van "Bus" - 1974 to 1985 |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32598
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Christopher Schimke
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5390
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: Name That Repair |
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When the hub gets hot, the grease thins out and this allows it to creep out of the crevices around the grease cap and it gets slung outward.
Many times this will happen when the rotor gets really hot due to a dragging caliper or sometimes even when there is a long, downhill event that required lots of braking. Obviously the wheel bearings could be the culprit too.
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7756
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Name That Repair |
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Another vote for bearing grease. Something's getting hot down in that corner...check it out, SOON.
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
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nacradriver
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2009
Posts: 760
Location: Ventura, CA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Name That Repair |
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| Christopher Schimke wrote: |
When the hub gets hot, the grease thins out and this allows it to creep out of the crevices around the grease cap and it gets slung outward.
Many times this will happen when the rotor gets really hot due to a dragging caliper or sometimes even when there is a long, downhill event that required lots of braking. Obviously the wheel bearings could be the culprit too. |
Thanks Christopher... what would cause a caliper to drag...
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Güdrun -1989 Westfalia - 2013 - 2018
Petra - 1985 Vanagon - 1985 to 1991
Zisa - 1974 VW Van "Bus" - 1974 to 1985 |
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Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: Name That Repair |
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if someone has not changed the rubber brake hoses, they can swell shut, preventing the piston from moving back
or any of a dozen other possibilities
anyway, you want to put it up on stands while you do ALL brake maintenance and wheel bearing maintenance - do all 4 wheels
- how long since the wheel bearings were inspected and re-greased? |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
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T3 Pilot
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1507
Location: Deep South of the Great White North
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Name That Repair |
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| nacradriver wrote: |
| Christopher Schimke wrote: |
When the hub gets hot, the grease thins out and this allows it to creep out of the crevices around the grease cap and it gets slung outward.
Many times this will happen when the rotor gets really hot due to a dragging caliper or sometimes even when there is a long, downhill event that required lots of braking. Obviously the wheel bearings could be the culprit too. |
Thanks Christopher... what would cause a caliper to drag... |
The caliber guide pins need some Silicone grease and confirm that their respective boots are in good condition.
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1988 Vanagon
The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel...... |
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Howesight
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008
Posts: 3274
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: Name That Repair |
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Years ago, a local cat sprayed my custom wheel rims several days in a row. Since cat pee is the same colour and viscosity as brake fluid, I thought I knew what to do. Fortunately, before removing the wheel to check the brake hoses and caliper, I sniffed the "brake" fluid.
Bingo - - it was Felix at work.
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chase4food
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2016
Posts: 636
Location: PNW im Amerika
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: Name That Repair |
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| nacradriver wrote: |
Thanks Christopher... what would cause a caliper to drag... |
What Christopher most likely meant is the brake pad are dragging excessively as if you have the brake applied a bit while driving. There are a few common causes:
For fixed caliper like the earlier Vanagon with dual pistons. After a incomplete rebuild, one or both the pistons may not slide smoothly, typically due to rusted pistons with the vehicle in the rust belt, or just simply too old and rusty. This prevents the piston from retracting slightly when there is no hydraulic pressure.
On floating caliper, like the one on later Vanagon, rust can cause the floating caliper to no longer float on the sliders. This will cause excessive brake drag. Of course the piston is susceptible to seizure just as the fixed caliper if the piston is rusty.
I have seen both of these two causes.
When there is excessive rust on the brake pad cavity of the caliper, that too can cause the pad not to retract and hence excessive drag.
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Michael4104
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014
Posts: 340
Location: Livermore, Ca
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 9:16 pm Post subject: Re: Name That Repair |
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Another vote for pulling the wheel and have a look.
I doubt there's a rust problems in Ventura ca., but stickie pins can happen.
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