CRASH3D GRANDMAS CAR,BRAKE FAILURE!!! After two decades

[shanered]

About a year ago I made a VERY bad decision and bought a dual circuit master cylinder from AUTOZONE.... Without any warning I had a symptom, intermittent front circuit resulting in loss of pedal pressure losing 90 percent of my brakes compacity. THE CULPRUIT STILL TO BE INVESTIGATED, I will share my result here on samba. Im ok, me and the dog were hurt but recovering, my best buddy got the worst of it, hit the dash. I got the windshield, much softer..

Before:

Ill update with new pictures from after the wreck, video of the intermittent pedal symptom and the processof finding the cause and solution. I am wondering if anyone else out there has a similar ordeal caused by cheap brake parts?

[slave1pilot]

I'm not understanding
How does a "front circuit" failure cause 90% brake capacity
A single circuit failure (which would cause you to lose one front and the opposite rear) would cause a 50% loss at most.

I could be wrong on how a VW dual circuit works though.
_________________
My Photobucket for my Herbie Project - http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/TK-439/library/Herbie?sort=3&page=1

Currently:
1963 Ragtop Beetle
Previously:
1967 Beetle
1968 Beetle
1970 Beetle

[OldSchoolVW's]

[Root_Werks]

Ouch! At least everyone walked away. Be very curios what you discover on the brake failure side.

Good reminder to also ensure your E-Brake is functional and adjusted.

-Dan
_________________
When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee?

[shanered]

Thanks for the kind replies, and yes 90 percent of your braking compacity comes from the front due to the tip forward you get when brakes are applied and yes this is only acurate at speed and when agressively stopping. I think static proportioning is 70/30.

[zerotofifty]

I think it is a bit early to blame an AutoZone master cylinder for this. Install error, other component failure perhaps? The problem can well be something else. Furthermore if one experiences an intermittent 90% degradation of braking and ignores it, golly it is really tough to not blame pilot error. Dont mean to be harsh to someone personally in a time of tragedy, but golly.

I wish for rapid full recovery for you, the dog and the car.

Best wishes.

[Cusser]

[shanered]

Thanks for the perspective on blame and I agree. There is a bit more to the scenerio but I am going to piece by piece disect the brake system and we WILL find the problem.

1st priority: check the pushrod adjustment (been locked in same spot for over a decade), and check pedals for brake return spring fatigue.

2, check all hydraulics for leaks

3 remove and inspect all plungers seals and return springs, also checking resivior for debri/restrictions because its not a stock setup on the resivoir, but same for over a decade, almost two.

All brake componenents were new, WolfsburgWest 180k ago. I only changed the master last year because I realized the mileage and was trying to be pro active because of the steep grades I regular.

More pictures soon.

[shanered]

The problem was discovered a split second before the smack, lost it into a up hill turn. It couldnt be more my fault the cars wrecked, i am grateful to be recovering. Speed was the main reason for the accident, counting on thst one brake pump into an s turn lol. Happened late after a 15 hr work day, you guys can relate i am sure. Not at all blaming autozone for my wrecklessness. J want to know what can cause a symptom like that, I found it to be 50/50 intermittent after the wreck, no rime or reason. Cant even wiggle some kind of diagnosis out of it, just feels weird. This happened a few monthd back. Im just now able to screen time again without concussion symptoms.

[Schnitzelfuss]

Glad everyone is OK. How old are the brake lines? They can visually appear to be serviceable but fail internally and produce your symptoms. If you’re not sure of their age and condition, replace them.

[Cusser]

Your picture shows brake fluid in reservoir pretty low, would guess there's a hydraulic leak somewhere.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[zerotofifty]

[shanered]

Thanks everyone for the adviceand opinions. I tend to be the slowest driver on the road when I share it, often joking that im the conductor of a caravan of road ragers lol. Not an excuse but I was alone in the dark in a canyon I drive daily. I had a habit of going through the whole car every few years and had just removed my hi po setup after losing my 4th gear, so I went from a fun 90hp to a boggy 50hp 1600sp. Crashed going up an 11 percent grade corner said 15, i admit if no headlights were present id regulary dive into this uphill corner doing 40 mph.. grew up on dirt bikes, just a part of my subconcious. I had a friend whos dad built whathe called "monster quads" which were suzuki quazillas with 3 cylinder rotax snow mobile engines. He told us one time, "some people use drugs, others are into money, success, but adreniline will always be what theyre seeking even if they dont know it"


Yes my fluid is dark and low, which is unusual. 2 months before the accident I installed the fresh gears, and new rear wheel cylinders, disassembled cleanedand re assembled both front wheel cylinders, and flushed out the fluid. Hard to believe its already dark like that.

[my3bugs]

this reminded me of the time i was about 20 years old and wrecked a 67 bug , i lost two front teeth to the steering wheel , your mouth is never the same after stuff like that , im 69 now . i usually drive in the slow lane of the freeways , no need for speed , but i still like a little PEP when ya want it or NEED it ..... and GOOD brakes !!!

i was young n dumb back then !!!

[67rustavenger]

[DUNTOVFAN]

Thank you OP for giving me a swift kick in the ass with your post. The brakes in my Bug need to be bleed and I keep putting it off and driving it,very cautiously,no more. Gonna bleed those brakes.

[Root_Werks]

Do you think you'll get the Bug back on the road again?

Never totaled a Bug before, but been in a few incidents that required a fender, one I think even a fender and hood. Bugs don't fare well against other cars or objects in general for that matter.
_________________
When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee?

[shanered]

I'm definitely eventually going to get it fixed. I picked up the green one for parts, but it's too nice to chop, numbers match etc. You can see where the Taiwan clip separated at the weld from too much heat, so the approach will be different, panels back together w/better equipment and German metal. My front beam is in a different spot now, doors opening is arched so idk. It's pretty bent..

[shanered]

Quick prelude to update, maybe found the culprit I believe.... maybe... The master cylinder although casting is sloppy doesn't seem to have any obvious flaws, it's quite dirty and the mysterious brake switch I had plugged into the front circuit has a millimeter less thread than the one inthe rear circuit and seems to have been bottomed out on the housing not the sealing area.... It was like this a couple years and was not leaking externally but logically seems like it could let air in on the plungers return which me brain thinks may let a bit of air in and not get quite the pump your expecting on the next stop.... Still not 100 percent but I've got some pics and videos to upload and a new German master cylinder from jbugs on the way which I will install without altering or adjusting anything else and we will see if the problem persists. Thanks again everyone for all of the good advice and perspective, if this helps anyone or prevents any injuries, vw related nose jobs flesh or steel worth all the time spent on the screens right.?

[Cusser]