Brake pressure regulator valve causing problems? Solved!!!!

[Desertbusman]

Have someone apply pedal pressure while you crack the rear line at the M/C and see what kind of squirt you get, pressure and volume. Don't hold me responsible for the mess or damage from fluid spraying everywhere You could also do it to the M/C front line connection for comparison.

And obviously you would have adjusted up the rear shoes?
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71 Superbug
71 Westy

[SGKent]

I too am leaning towards a bad new master. I once had 10 in a row from a well known supplier on a Fiats. They also supplied for VW back then. I was ready to pull my hair out. I went to another brand on the" oh what the heck have I to lose" and it worked. I put one of the bad ones back in and it failed. I put the good one in and it worked. I guess someone had a bad day at the factory the day they were made.

Are the fronts releasing properly?
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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

[aeromech]

I sure wonder about the missing fluid from the reservoir. Is the owner
really that ignorant?

He's a really nice guy but pretty new to buses and he probably never checks things like reservoirs. I just happened to notice when he dropped it off that the brakes felt funny.

The symptoms are the same with the new and the old MC. I have adjusted the rear shoes.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Desertbusman]

Were the shoes arched to the drums when you did it or are there so few miles on the shoes that contact area is still very minimal?
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71 Superbug
71 Westy

[aeromech]

[SGKent]

Mike (DBM) has posted this a couple of times if it helps

_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Desertbusman]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

did you shove the shoes fore and aft to see if the pistons were stuck?

how about a sticky/rusted pad? i have seen brake pads get hung up if the rust is bad in the slider area, and actually bend the pad.

if you posed it, i'm sorry. 'nother long day...
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[aeromech]

Well guys, once again I've taken something simple and gone for the most difficult fix first. It was a bad rear wheel cylinder. Today I rebuilt both of them and found one with considerable pitting. Luckily I had a good used spare. So once rebuilt and bled and adjusted I spun up the rears and hit the brakes. They worked great. Then I had my buddy spin up the fronts and they worked good too although the front left had some resistance so maybe the caliper is getting bad. Then I drove it and the brakes work great. I'm sure the owner will be very happy when he feels the difference.

I'd like to thank everyone for their input especially those who pointed me towards the real problem. It took some beating to get it in my head but the big thing is that I finally looked at them and I eventually won the battle.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Tom Powell]

[busdaddy]

High five!, sometimes the little things you least suspect are the biggest offenders, symptoms added to my mental rolodex of suspects for symptoms, thanks
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[aeromech]

Symptoms, yes. I never would have thought of a wheel cylinder. Usually a bad one presents itself with a large puddle at the base of the tire and streaks down the inside. In this case it proved to be elusive. I believe from now on I will strongly consider rebuilding wheel cylinders when I do brake jobs. I get the kits for less than $5 and try to keep a few in stock.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[aeromech]

where do you buy your kits?

Try Autohausaz. They have great prices on all kinds of VW stuff. Shipping is free over $50 and no sales tax. In the past I've gotten delivery the next day but lately it's been taking longer and I don't know why.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Desertbusman]

that's a great place for what it is. Real limited selection of parts but they seem to have the basic parts we need. It's best to know what brand and P/No of what parts you want first before you go there and their prices usually are lower than anywhere else. They used to have a will call but it's cheaper to wait a day instead of spending the time and gas.

glad you got the brakes straightened out.
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71 Superbug
71 Westy

[aeromech]

I've found great prices there. Usually they give you several choices of quality including OEM parts. The free shipping is a smoking deal for heavy parts. I bought 4 gallons of Honda approved power steering fluid once for $42. Before that I was paying $5 per pint at Autozone.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[old DKP driver]

Gary, Glad this worked out without anymore head scratching.
I went thru this same crap in the summer with my bus when all i wanted to do was change the trailing arm bushings and reset the ride height.

After putting it all back together and flushing the brakes, which I do every year by the way and going thru an extra pint of B.Fluid and finding the Rt
rear not bleeding very well I ordered 2 rear hoses and still had the pedal problem

Took the cylinder off and found one of the cups was torn and appeared to have melted. 'I am' and will be Apprehensive about the pressure regulator
but, have never seen one fail on a bus as long as the sytem is in good order.

And yepp...I too buy alot of parts from AutoHaus az. and have for many years. Cheers
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V.W.owner since 1967

[Jody '71]

Bravo Gary!!!!!! Yeah I've always gotten good parts from Autohauz for my Passat, haven't tried any of the vintage VW stuff. Glad you got the problem fixed. Your topics always wind up being a positive learning experience for all of us here on Samba
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'66 Beetle
2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring

[SGKent]

awesome work Gary!
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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

[Tom Powell]