I hate drum brakes.

[ozark23]

65 split bus.
stock drum brakes with dual master
bled correctly, stars are all adjusted (recently)
was pulling badly to the right/passenger when i hit the brakes
and now today...pulling even harder to the Drivers side/Left
NOTHING has changed since two days ago when last driven?
possible the Master is going bad? I am perplexed.

Thanks for the Help!

[turkis-deluxe]

When did you change your flex lines last? Pulling is either brakes out of adjustment or a bad line. Check that and should be an easy fix. Good luck!

[Erik G]

tie rods or other front end pieces?
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[74 Thing]

Did you pull back the boots on the wheel cylinders to make sure it was not leaking or pitted or corroded?

That was my problem-one of my brake cylinders was corroded with a bunch of build up under the boot.

[Eric&Barb]

Wheel cylinder that leaks just a bit, makes that set of brake pads more grabby. Like one does when wetting finger tips when counting money.

Wheel cylinder that leaks more, lubricates up the brake shoes in that drum, making the bus veer to the other side.
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[Lind]

[MrVWGuy]

I had this exact problem. Solved it with a disc brake kit from Wagenswest:

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'63 Bus (camper of unknown origin)
'62 Beetle
'68 Kombi
'76 Westfalia camper, the wife's

[6sixTinBox]

[Captain Pike]

Also went disc. Easy peasy.
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LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[PEPPE]

check the exact inner diameter of the drums. often differences left to right or too much machining or non bed-in brake shoes cause uneven braking.

[NUTSFORBUSES]

Front and Rear disc's
Stops like a Yugo about to hit a Pinto in front of an orphanage.

[mykillcykill]

All good advice and variables have been covered and I would advocate discs as well. I did the CSP kit almost 15 years ago spending more on the kit than I spent for my SC. Best money ever spent. If you do insist on staying with drums, know that any small amount of contamination on the shoes will cause grabbiness and this will be magnified if you have any slop in any of the steering components.

[Manfred58sc]

Having real German drums with ATE components makes a real difference, hard to come by these days, but worth the effort. My 58 stops great with everything sorted out.

That disc set up looks mighty sweet.
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Fat chick owner/operator

[Eric&Barb]

[PEPPE]

[MrWhoopee]

I'm another one who went discs on my '63, over 20 years ago. I went with the Wolfgang Int'l setup, largely because it was the only bolt-on replacement available that retained wide-fives. The only mod was to the calipers, which had to be ground to clear the rims. Even with no assist and after 20k miles, the difference is still shocking.

After chasing problems like you describe and numerous close calls on the road, it was well worth the money spent.
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Craig ('51 WASP)
Rosie ('63 Double Cab)

[Alan Brase]

Well, I like drums just fine.
AS FAR AS ONE CAN EXPECT.
I live in the US MIDWEST.
Certainly with a bigger engine, or lots of mountain stopping.
I have a 1970 Westy project. I don't think it will ever get discs. UNLESS in a future life I drive it in mountains a lot.
Neither in my 56 single cab that will not even go 55mph.
Careful replacement of parts and especially brake hoses and hydraulics should make the drums work fine. The same failures will make disc brakes work poorly as well.
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Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home