Super Beetle drum brake adjustment question

[beanlover]

Finally had time to check this out.

I tested the brakes again before any adjustment. Pressure was still pretty high but not as high as it was when it was heated up from driving (to be expected).

I turned the nut closest to the firewall...the entire rod turned with it (also expected). I tested the brakes again and they went all the way to the floor. So this had the desired result.

I pumped the brakes several times to build up pressure and felt the brakes engage...then let off the pedal and tested again. It went all the way to the floor without any engagement of the brakes so that's a good sign.

I tried to slowly push the brake pedal by hand to feel when it comes into contact with the piston in the master cylinder...and I can't feel any difference in the travel. I push it down slowly but I never feel like it gets more resistance. Perhaps it's still in constant contact with the piston? I'll continue to move the rod back...but I turned it probably 3 or 4 complete turns before I tested the brakes again as noted (when they went to the floor). Hard to imagine it was THAT far out of adjustment...but anything is possible of course.

How obvious is it when the push rod comes into contact with the piston? I tried looking up videos and pictures but there's not much out there for this.

[MrGoodtunes]

[beanlover]

I adjusted it back even further and it became pretty obvious when it was coming into contact with the piston...so apparently it was pretty tightly positioned by some PO. Now I just need to adjust it "properly" and set the nuts to hold it in the correct position...and then adjust my brakes yet again!

[beanlover]

Readjusted my shoes today...rears were pretty far out of adjustment...made several turns on each adjuster to get them to where they needed to be. Now the parking brake handle doesn't even come up over the bottom part of the seats.

I'm compiling more and more evidence that there is a God and He has had his hand on my life...because I drove the car home like this for 4 hours. It was good that the brakes needed adjusted or it probably would have never moved once the fluid started heating up. I'm surprised my front passenger side drum isn't completely warped...but apparently it was adjusted in just a way that it didn't heat up too much...so many factors that had to play nicely together in the weirdness that is this car and its issues. These cars are extremely resilient!!

I just need to get the pushrod nuts to be positioned correctly...they seem to be crusted to the threads. Going to remove that and fix them into place and I should be set.

[VW_Jimbo]

Glad you got it! That push rod adjustment is not a common issue. Most do not ever touch it. But I can tell you, as a mechanic that worked on these cars back 4 decades ago. They almost all needed an adjustment!
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[beanlover]