[T3] Early Front Brake Cylinders?

[Jim Adney]

Soren, thanks for the info. I wonder why the microfilm doesn't 
mention the earliest version. At least this clears up my question 
about the differences between versions 3 & 4.

You posted the same link for versions 2 & 3. Just to be sure, could 
you post the correct link for version 3 please.  

Can you explain why VW made version 4? It appears that the brake 
shoes were the same, and if the narrow slots of version 3 caused a 
problem, why wouldn't version 4 superceed version 3?

I bought a tube of the Brake Cylinder Paste from VW many years ago. 
It came with the cap cracked so it could not be sealed and the 
contents were "spoiled." Russ confirmed that they tended to do this, 
even in a shop where it would get used up rather quickly. Is your 
experience similar?

I suspect the paste consists of finely divided zinc powder suspended 
in a liquid. On exposure to air, the zinc would turn to zinc oxide, 
which is white, and that's the color of what's in my tube. I should 
check to see what kind of liquid this is. I have no idea if it would 
be compatable with Silicone Brake Fluid.

Where do you buy yours?

BTW, I did a bit of a search and found that ATe says their paste is 
NOT compatable with DoT-5 Silicone Brake Fluid. I just use a thick 
silicone fluid for coating my brake parts when assembling them. It's 
what Dow-Corning recommended and it has worked well for me for many 
years.

thanks,

Jim

On 11 Jul 2013 at 2:56, snj at pobox.com wrote:

> On 07/08 14:34, Jim Adney wrote:

> > I've never had a Type 3 early enough to have front drum brakes,
> 
> Consider yourself lucky! ;)  Discs are wonderful.
> 
> > so I'm not familiar with the different versions that were used on the
> > '61-65 cars. The microfilm shows 3 versions. Version 2 & 3 look alike
> > and use the same illustration; version 1 looks completely different.
> 
> There are four different versions, and two distinct shapes.  I guess
> three versions if you exclude adjusters and pistons and refer only to
> cylinder bodies.
> 
> Early (first 27k) Notchbacks and T34s used 20.64mm cylinders, which look
> like this: http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/4202947.jpg
> 
> Squarebacks used 22.22mm cylinders from the beginning, and Notchbacks
> and T34s joined the party in March of 62.  These cylinders share the
> same overall shape as the early 20.64mm versions.  Here's one:
> http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/4202961.jpg
> 
> For 1964 and 1965, a new shape of cylinder was introduced.  They look
> like this: http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/4202961.jpg
> 
> > I have some of those version 2 or 3 cylinders here that people have 
> > sent me, and they all look alike except for one little detail: The 
> > slot in the piston, for the brake shoe, is ~4mm wide in some and ~6mm 
> > wide in others. From looking at the parts lists, only the pistons and 
> > adjusters seem to be different. (VW did not sell the body castings 
> > separately, so there might be some minor difference that I haven't 
> > noticed.) All are 22.2 mm (7/8") dia. I don't have most of the 
> > adjusters, so I can't check the slot widths in them, but I assume 
> > they were the same 2 widths.
> > 
> > Can anyone tell me if this is the difference and, if so, which one is 
> > the earlier version?
> 
> Yes, this is indeed the difference.  The earlier (1964) one is the
> narrower version.  I've not seen any differences in the bodies.
> 
> > And, BTW, if you have brake parts that you think might be useful 
> > someday. Please don't just set them aside to rebuild later, when you 
> > need them. Brake parts left sitting with brake fluid in them will 
> > rust badly in storage and become much less likely to be rebuildable. 
> > Rebuild them NOW, then store them dry.
> 
> And since we're on the topic of best practices for brake components, be
> sure to apply some brake paste on the sealing surfaces when reassembling
> the cylinders.  I use ATe's paste (Bremszylinder-Paste), pictured here:
> http://blef.org/vw/brakepaste.jpg
> 
> That only applies to glycol-based brake fluid users, of course.  I'm
> sure Jim will correct me if I'm wrong, but those of you using silicone
> brake fluid should just use a bit of fluid for lubrication upon
> assembly.
> 
> Soren
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-- 
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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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