Vanagon luck......bad of course

[summer samba]

So, I just spent the last few weekends replacing almost all of my coolant system including, radiator, most all hoses, long coolant lines, new heater hose front to back, new bleeder junction(1.9), themostat, new rear heater o-ring and connecting T's, I also installed V.C. aluminum fuel rails and a firewall grommet while I was in there.
I will fill and bleed over the next couple of days as I am just about done.
So this moring I was under the van zip tying every thing in place and I look over to my left rear wheel and I see brake fluid (I think) dripping down from the drum onto the tire ahhhhhhhhhhhhrrrgggggggg!!!!!!!!!!
I planned on doing the whole rear wheel bearing-brake thing but jeeeze can't I have some rest in between?
I will check it out , I hope it's just the cyl.
Well I guess it will be great fall season for the van........

[Scubavw]

Hey just think about it, you will have a new cooling system and new rear brakes. Really what you have already done, replaceing the master cylinder and maybe new brake shoes is not that big of a deal. Your lucky that you we not out in the middle of no when it happened.

[Bubusse]

Had a brake line leak early this season. Brake lines aren't that big a deal, compared to replacing miles & miles of coolant lines like you just did. I know it's never as easy as it seems, but cheer up, you'll soon be on the road !
(and, as I have had the chance to experience when the leak happened, VW have had the clever idea to put the brake fluid tank right in front of the driver so you can fill it as you drive and as it leaks down there
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89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia

[Phishman068]

I sincerely hate brake lines, particularly on a vanagon.
It has come to the point where when I look at vanagons to buy, if the lines are in anything but great shape, i either look past them or require a huge deduction in price to purchase.
I know they're "simple" for some, heck perhaps even me....
I just hate them.

Keep in mind once one goes, question them all!
Having lost brakes on a vanagon before, i'd suggest you trace all your brake lines now looking for scabs of rust.

[Love My Westy]

To put things in perspective--bad luck is an engine fire that burns the van up.
A brake leak is just one of those small things that need to be taken care of occasionally.

[chojinchef]

Better in the driveway than on the road.

I would put that in the 'thank you travel gods' category.

LP
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Its a mistress; an expensive, whiney, needy bitch of a mistress. She is a chunky, dirty girl with bad skin, little motivation and yet she always makes me smile. She sure has been around before shacking up with me. She has a direct line to my wallet, plays with my emotions, is consistantly jovial yet with a sarcastic and sardonic side, is consistant in her inconsistancy, and every once in a while gives me a great ride and a fantastic memory.

[summer samba]

Thanks for the positive words everyone.
Its just that this is my first vanagon, got it one year ago and so far I have replaced the entire fuel injection system, intake runners, plenum, fuel lines,rebuilt afm, rebuilt throttle body $$$ injectors, ect. aong with the cooling job just done. Plus a million little things.
My logic was to redo all of the systems and then when I blew a head gasket all of the other stuff would be ready for my new engine. Its just that my van wants these things done a little faster than my wallet does!
And we all know that every project is not as easy as it looks.
Oh well at least it all supports the final goal- A safe usable camper.

[morymob]

U r getting there so some patience is needed(hard sometimes). My '88 was hauled home and for the next yr i slowly covered pretty much all of it, repair, replace etc and for last 2 yrs has performed great. A 250+ mi planned this week end, several so far so hang in there, lite at end of tunnel will come on.