Bus brake Proportioning Valve Same as Early Vanagon?

[Vanagon Nut]

Hi all.

Hopefully I won't get in trouble asking this here but.....

I just found out that the '73-'79 Bus and '80-'85 Vanagon share the same brake calipers. It's a long shot, but as the subject says, I'm curious if they also share the same brake proportioning valve and if it's NLA or not (for the Bus)

If anyone knows, or has a PN/pic for the Bus brake proportioning valve, I'd appreciate it.

TIA,

Neil.

P.S. Here's a pic of the one on my '81:

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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[oorwullie]

that looks to be the same as the later bay ones, the 211 start to part no. is right as well . i have a few bay ones lying around and also the box a new one came in about 18 months ago.if no one else answers i can check that tomorrow.


we broke a late vanagon a few weeks ago and although it wasn't me actually took the pressure regulator off, i did notice it while working on the front axles and i think it was different.

[SGKent]

I compared mid 1970s with 1982 and the part number is the same on the VCat and VWHeritage site. 211 612 501A. On late vanagons they use a different system with ABS. VWHeritage shows them available on their site for about $200
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Vanagon Nut]

[Vanagon Nut]

[oorwullie]

NLA from volkswagen you mean? it's a girling part!

[Vanagon Nut]

[oorwullie]

here's the box from the last new one one i bought (not from girling) together with one that didn't work anymore.

the different type on my 91 caravelle.

and the same type on an 84 i'm stripping.

maybe it's only the aircooled vanagons have the same as bay parts.

[Vanagon Nut]

Thanks for the pics oorwullie

Talked to my parts guy today. (not dealership) Valve is NLA for all years of Vanagon. I don't know if this applies only to North America.

But.... a very knowledgable fellow on Vanagon.com email list, said the Bay part would work for the early model years. I wonder if it would function the same on later models? I don't see why not. I don't think the rear brakes design changed much if at all all during production, so if the job of the valve is to limit pressure to rear brakes, (under certain conditions) it should work. But I'm not certain. Anyhow. Valve would require the obvious modifications, for use in later model years, but if it was ok to use, that would be very good news!

My parts guy said his ETKA (or other database. I don't know) showed the early type valve for 80 - mid 82. WBX engine introduced in mid '83 AFAIK. Anyhow......

Thanks for the help and leeway on content people. It may very well have helped solve a future potential issue for other Vanagon owners.

Cheers,

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[Davidcu]

Will a proportioning valve from a 71 bus with the bleeder valve work on a 76 bus that had a proportioning valve without the bleeder. Basically is it hte same unit but has a bleeder and will work for both years?

[Desertbusman]

Here's a '71- As far as the bleeder goes the manual says don't use the bleeder anyway to bleed anything.

In reality it is a proportioning valve because it does proportion the pressure. But more accurately and descriptive is a regulating valve since it regulates when and if the proportioning feature is used. Normal simple proportioning valves do the proportioning all the time.

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71 Superbug
71 Westy

[SGKent]

lines come in at different spots on early vs late. NOS ones are still floating around out there. Unless yours is leaking or your lines really gunky there is only a big ball bearing that rolls around in there. You can easily test it following Bentley.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Hoody]

This particular part was one of the most difficult to find nos. I seriously doubt there are many left world wide nos. I found a stash a few years ago and have since sold the extra couple I had to friends. German Supply was having them rebuilt but I do not think they do it any more. As Steve mentioned it has a large ball inside the valve. I think Scott had someone taking them apart, cleaning them, and replacing the gasket between the halves. The issue is the diaphragm inside the valve. If that goes after years of brake fluid the valve is toast even if you clean it. I think either DB or the gentleman in NM had a nice write up about cleaning the innards with alcohol. Also I remember Ray Greenwood explained how to use a modern valve and make it work. Hope this helps.

[germansupplyscott]

we still rebuild the brake valves. there is no diaphragm inside, but there are seals.
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SL

[Desertbusman]

Yes, I used a big syrenge and kept flushing the inside with alcohol until the junk broke loose and all came out. seems like you can partially take it apart but not all the way.
Ray Greenwood told of the types of alcohol to use and not use.

Before cleaning it out the rear brakes would lock up and skid on hard braking. With it working as intended it is an outstanding system.

Until recently I didn't know Scott redid them, that's great.
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71 Superbug
71 Westy

[SGKent]

There you go - buy a rebuilt one from Scott of the right kind and you are done. Simple solution.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[telford dorr]

Is there any documentation on what's inside these? And why are they not "rebuildable" (according to Bentley)? Just curious...
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'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[Desertbusman]

[jadney]

I do a lot of Type 3 calipers and master cylinders, but I recently worked over a set for someone with a '79 bus. Out of caution, I asked him to send me the proportioning valve, too, just to make sure everything was in good shape. I ended up rebuilding it, just to get the rust and dirt out of it. In the end, I only needed to make a new paper gasket; everything else was in good condition once the bores were honed and it was all cleaned up.

Finding this thread helped me understand what was going on here and encouraged me to fix this valve.

I charged $50 for this repair, which was only a few bucks more than what I had to invest in some new hones for the small bores. I expect to be able to do the same for anyone else with either version of this valve (with or without bleeder) and that would enable me to recover more of my investment in those small flex hones.

That valve is a very interesting design, but the one I worked over was filled with crud that made me wonder how long it had been since it had worked properly.

Email me if you've got one that needs attention.
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Jim Adney
50+ years of VW Type 3 experience
Specializing in VW Type 3 parts and service