Replacing brake pedal spring

[EverettB]

[GLHTurbo]

Removed the brake arm, spring was not broken and was seated properly. Degreased everything with some cleaner and fresh rags, used some very fine scotch pad on the shaft, fresh grease and reassembled. Works perfectly now!

Started the process on the clutch arm, worked some pb blaster into it. Can't quite get it to budge outwards yet. Will try again tomorrow evening, hopefully the pb soak well loosen it more over time.
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1957 Beetle
1966 Bus

[VW Truck]

I'm having problems with my brake pedal spring. It doesn't sit in a positions like hazetyguy's here:

Mine slips off that cupped washer and jams in between it and the pedal arm. There is enough axial force to work the snap ring loose.

These are the components. Originally it was missing the washer that goes between the clip and the pedal arm. I made one but didn't show it here. The new WW spring is the upper one in the pic.

I have the cupped washer installed in the orientation that is shown in EverettBs photo:

Any ideas?
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My 1959 Truck

[nlorntson]

That spring to the right of the pedal looks wrong. It looks like a wrist pin keeper.

IIRC it should be a snap ring.

[VW Truck]

Gotcha. I'll get a regular snap ring.

Can anyone tell me how thick the washer between the brake arm and snap ring is supposed to be?
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My 1959 Truck

[EverettB]

Snap ring from earlier in the thread:

I don't know the thickness of that washer but yours does look possibly look thinner to me than the ones earlier in this thread.
I'm guessing the wrong snap ring is an issue though.
Unfortunately all my Buses have the pedal pans on right now to check.
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[VW Truck]

Thanks for the reply. See how the spring sits in the left picture compared to mine on the right? I'm looking for ideas on whats wrong with my setup. My spring isn't centering on the shaft. It's jamming itself between the brake arm and the cupped washer.

I will get a new snap ring, but I am sure that isn't causing the problem. I also machined various thicknesses of washers (the one by the snap ring and nothing helped.

Last night I filed the weld down a bit too to see if the leg of the spring that contacts the frame could fit more in the corner.

Thanks!
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My 1959 Truck

[nlorntson]

The coiled spring should fit mostly over the cupped washer. Your pick looks like it does not.

Do you have your old spring to compare diameter to?

Maybe some of these will help?

[VW Truck]

Thanks for the pictures!

I checked the diameter and the WW and the stock are identical. The WW is under the stock spring in this picture.

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My 1959 Truck

[DonVWMiller]

A little off topic but this thread gave me a lot of good info including the schematic of the pedal assembly.

My specific question is: “does anyone know the size of the nut for the shaft (part 35)?”

Mine fell off and luckily I didn’t crash...

I’ve tried Metric M12-1.75, M12-1.5 and M12-1.25 but can only just start the nut. Frankly, a Course thread 1/2” SAE works best but I don’t want to damage threads so I thought the Samba “braintrust” might know.

Regardless, this thread has convinced me to take the whole pedal assembly apart, clean it & replace worn parts. Since I’m doing the brake system anyway it only makes sense to do everything from penal to rear shoes & everything in between!
- Don

[BarryL]

The parts list shows M12X1.5.

[DonVWMiller]

So I took the bolt out and the threads are trashed so I’m ordering a new one.

New question: my pedal assembly is missing the “stepped” washer (item #31 in the green diagram). I’m not able to find this part at Wolfsburg West so can anyone suggest a parts source for this part. I thought I read they made the bolt 7mm longer and the spacer isn’t needed so maybe what I have is correct?

Thanks my friends...
Don

[BarryL]

What year is your bus? It looks like part #31 (which is not a spacer but a kind of inside guide seat for the spring's I.D. to glide on) was discontinued after '64. Starting with chassis 215 026 862 it was no longer used. I don't know what substituted for it: maybe the thing is built in to the undercarriage stuff. I have a '65 and '67 but both have pedal pans so I can't see mine right now.

The seat part is 211 721 235. You might be able to cheat the clutch lever return spring one from the transmission but I don't know. It is part 111 141 727.

[FreddyWanKenobi]

Sorry being late to the game but anyone know of any videos or step by step on getting this spring on? It’s becoming a living hell!

[mastorna]

Quick bump on this thread. My spring broke and I purchased an EMPI replacement but damn if I'm having the hardest time getting this installed. What's the trick or tool that could jam this damn thing in place with enough room for the clip and washer to go on? About the max I can push it in is just enough to put the bolt flush with the pedal. I need a good 3mm left it seems and no matter how hard I push it won't go.
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1959 Type II Mango SO-23
1962 Type II Kombi Light Gray
1963 Type II Standard Sunroof SWR\BG
1963 Type II Deluxe MG\PW

[TheVintageVw]

is the spring suppose to "move" not be under load at any point when brake pedal is not pressed? I can move my spring and it has no tension and im beginning to think something isnt right.

[campingbox]

[TheVintageVw]

[campingbox]

What year is that? If it’s ‘65 and earlier it looks like you are missing the “cup” or it’s the wrong spring. Check the parts list for a complete diagram of what you need.