[T3] Brake Calipers

[Adriel Rowley]

Decided to attempt to drive the Squareback down to Imperial Beach this afternoon, but did not start well.  Finished a Summer class last night, and have been burning the midnight oil for several nights in a row, then getting up around seven thirty.  So, accidentally slept until noon, but guess once in my life will not hurt me. ;)  Got right to her, but could not get the home made brake bleeder to work.  So, repaired it with R.T.V. adhesive, and needed to dry.  Tried to get to the rear adjusted, but since I have a heavy load in the back, could not quite get in the right position.  Then thought I park it in the drive to be safer.  Nope, battery died down while away.  Try to find a extension cord to reach it, and find none.  See the neighbor that has a '67 Beetle talking to another neighbor, and go ask if they have one to lend.  Neighbor has one, happy bring it home, plug one end in, and realize it is a few feet short.  This is just not my day.  Get the idea to check in the Christmas stuff (hands were now clean) and found one just barely long enough.  Plug in the charger, and it is not humming.  It is a unit I pulled out of Jack's trash, and figured out the meter does not work, 6 volt circuit maybe no good since that is the only circuit he needs, and a bit corroded from being left out in the rain.  I cannot complain, because been working fine, so will leave it alone until I need to fix it; saved me $50. ;)  Anyway, so figured it had died, but grabbed the volt meter, and found no voltage leaving the unit.  So, feel under the seat, and dos not feel like it is connected.  Shift the load around, and get up the seat to find it is disconnected.  Connected it, but still not working, then dawns on me there might be a way to test if power is coming in.  Checked, and the case is grounded, so used that and the incoming power terminal, and found no voltage.  Apparently when I went in the house, forgot to plug it back in.  Duh!  Did that, and check again, and all was good.  Going to leave it over night on trickle, and see if that lasts me a while.  

With the battery charging, went and checked the bleeder; still needs time to cure.  The pedal was not pressurizing the system, so thought was due to lack of fluid getting into the calipers.  Had fluid on the right, but not the left.  Checked the bleeder valve, and realized it is basically a threaded plug.  So then why do we put caps on them?  When I had to attach the hoses to the calipers prior, the hoses got twisted.  Thought nothing of it at the time, but suspected it today.  So took off both calipers to be sure both were kosher.  Forgot the bleeder on the left was open, and soon as I got the hose straitened, had a mini geyser.  Let the air bleed out even though was the wrong side, but figured it would not hurt if I bled it again after the right.  The pad clip was pushing the pads inward, so repositioned it so the clip was on top of the pads, not between it.  Mounted it on the caliper on the disk, and went in for lunch.  Came back, and the pressure bleeder was still not cured, so decided to to try and learn something new: gravity bleed.  Opened the bleeders and let them sit for about fifteen minutes to be sure there was no air in the system.  While waiting, reinstalled the calipers, but could not get the bottom tabs to bend onto the bolts due to lack of clearance.  Bolts properly torqued, so alright to leave the bottoms unlocked?  

Seemed there was very little air in the system, especially the left.  The right at first had old DOT-3 or 4 in it, so made sure it drained out.  The lower bleeders were rusted to the caliper body, so left them.  Figured if it is not broken do not fix it. ;)  Pedal felt good, but seems the rear shoes might need adjusting soon.  Do the shoes need to reseat after they have been reinstalled? 

Did noticed the left caliper is a bit tighter than the left.  I used a paint can to hold the pedal down, and both grip the same.  Thinking just quit being paranoid and leave it.  Calipers are not original, as the lock plates were not locked, and there was anti-seize on the bolts.  Pads also look new, so will leave them and install the ceramic ones later.  No use wearing out quality pads grinding down rust. ;)