[T3] Brake issues....

[James Lingenfelter]

Exactly. And it blows my mind that this guy can work on the car, hop  
in it and drive around the block with the brake pedal going almost to  
the floor, and absolutely no way to stop in an emergency,  and then  
drive back and say "ok, everything feels great now". Does he actually  
think I'm not going to notice? Or does he really not even know the  
difference?

On Jul 21, 2011, at 5:24 PM, Keith Park wrote:

> Its amazing that a shop like that can stay in business... I mean,  
> if they
> can handle the modern cars with the antilock brakes and all the  
> sensors and
> special gizmo's  but they cant handle something as simple as our cars!
>
> Time to find a new shop, I mean, ANYBODY should be able to handle a  
> simple
> set of basic drum brakes.
>
> Keith
>
>
> Top Notch Restorations
> topnotch at nycap.rr.com
> http://www.a383ina68.addr.com/radiorest/main.htm
> 71 Squareback "Hothe"
> 65 Notchback "El Baja Rojo"
> 65 Squareback "Eggcrate"
> 87 golf "Winterat"
> 93 RX7 "Redstur"
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org
> [mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org] On Behalf Of  
> James
> Lingenfelter
> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 2:49 AM
> To: type3 at vwtype3.org
> Subject: [T3] Brake issues....
>
>   Hi everybody; I am in the midst of a brake system nightmare with my
> '68 squareback, to the extent that I will be forced to sell the car
> soon if I can not figure out what is going on and get it drivable.
>
> The story: had a leaking rear wheel cylinder, took it to a VW shop;
> they replaced both rear wheel cylinders; they called me and said the
> drums were badly scored and should be replaced, but it would take
> them a week to get the parts. I said no, brakes felt fine before, I
> can't be without the car another week, just put it back together like
> it is. I go pick up the car, they tell me they "turned" the drums
> because they were so scored and I didn't want to replace them. Brakes
> feel fine, pedal firm, they stop well, but then I notice the rears
> are dragging. I jack up the rear and can hardly turn the rear wheels
> at all. I loosen the star adjusters quite a few notches and they're
> still dragging. So I go back to the shop, they tell me the guy who
> worked on my car has since been fired for screwing up brake jobs, and
> they readjust them for me. I go home, next day, rears dragging again.
> Back to the shop, slightly more angry this time. NOW they tell me
> that the guy screwed up by "turning" the drums, and they would have
> to replace the rear drums (at their own expense of course). They
> readjust the rears again, tell me they'll call me when the new drums
> come in, and send me on my way. Next day, rears are dragging
> again..... this time felt like the wheel was free part of the
> rotation, and dragging HARD at only a certain point..... gave a nice
> "surging" effect while coasting. This time it was enough that I even
> smelled them burning a couple of times.
>
> So the new drums come in, back to the shop. NOW I pick the car up
> with the new drums, and the pedal goes NEARLY to the floor. Didn't
> seem to be a bleeding issue, because no matter what the pedal never
> got any firmer. Back to the shop. Bled the brakes again, adjusted the
> rears yet again.... the guy tells me he can't adjust the rears any
> more or they'll start dragging. I get in the car, brake pedal goes
> nearly to the floor..... tonight I needed to make a somewhat quick
> stop from about 40mph, and my foot was feeling the floorboard, and
> still hardly any braking power. It's scary to drive. Also there's now
> a knocking sound from the rear brakes while braking, that was never
> there before.
>
> So here's the current situation: new drums, shoes, and wheel
> cylinders in the rear, adjusted to the max; front calipers were just
> completely rebuilt/new pads etc. No air in the lines, no fluid loss
> anywhere..... and the car is 100% unsafe to drive. What could this be?
>
> I'm currently working about 80 hours a week and have no time to do
> any work to the car myself; at this point my only hope is to get some
> advice on what the problem might be and pass that on to a mechanic
> (since apparently none of them can do a simple brake job without
> outside help).
>
> Thanks for taking the time to read...
> Jimmy
>
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