[T3] 412 Brake Caliper Question

[William J]

 I needed more rear shoes than normal because even though I did hone the old 
stock VW wheel cylinders the metal cups were pitted and also the wheel 
cylinder bore and the rubber kits my have not been the best , They leaked 
and ruined one set of shoes. I tried to save them , by the time I honed the 
pits out I thought the new seals would do the job for some reason they 
didn't . I just got new ones that NAPA sold back in 97 . When they didn't 
cost a small  fortune.

 Autozone has pads and new shoes at a good price so I can get those . They 
have the pads with the groove and the pad on the back side semi metalic.
 New shoes not old rebonded ones I always ended up with that the linings 
were never the same length .  I would think the shoe lining should be as 
long as the bonding surface to get more wear and more surface area. . Still 
they always came with the lining all the way to one end and a good inch away 
at the other. The grooved pads seem to be what VW used most .

 These OM piston retaining plates you have , are they the ones that have the 
center area that fits the piston center with the prongs ? I can't recall 
what my pistons look like on the pad side . The ones on this car are not 
like that. They are just flat thin held by the 2 pad pins and have the angle 
for the piston and no center hole that fits the piston.

 On the trans filter I ordered one with the pan gasket from Bulk Parts but 
it's still sitting in UPS's hands ,Monday will be 2 weeks since they somehow 
screwed up .

 What I really need are the 4 runner boots and 4 of those retaining plates 
unless they are like mine then 1 will do. I know my oil cooler seals must be 
leaking a bit being over 20 years old. Just so I have them in case . I have 
no idea what the cooler fins look like since I saw them last in 97 and it 
still has the original rubber seal , looked fine in 97. . I does not seem to 
run hot . The brakes are my next job , I can't recall the last time I 
changed the fluid 2001 maybe. Well past the 2 year required time frame. I'm 
a bit concerned about that yet it's been as long before without any 
problems. It's usually pretty dry here so hopefully there is not moisture in 
there. Still has the original master on it . I did change the front rubber 
line becasue one leaked rears are original yet seem to work and look fine 
and are not hard . Oh well I've let things go I'll find out once I get into. 
the brakes.

William
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Adney" <jadney at VWType3.org>
To: <type3 at vwtype3.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2016 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [T3] 412 Brake Caliper Question


> On 5 Mar 2016 at 13:08, William J wrote:
>
>>  I'm not hard on brakes , I checked the pads in 2009 1,500 miles ago and
>> they were 1/4" thick . I never replaced the spreader springs and was 
>> always
>> missing one of the tin deals that keep the piston from rotating on the 
>> right
>> outer . I could never seem to find them coming with pads and the tin 
>> piston
>> rotation holders are not like the ones in the Bentley , they don't fit 
>> over
>> the hub of the piston they are held just by the two pad pins and have the
>> angle cut. Then Bentley does not show each change.
>
> I reuse the spreader springs as long as they have enough meat to stay
> in place. I have new ones, but only replace them if they're missing.
> I've only ever seen the OE style of "piston retaining plates." I have
> them, both new and good used if you need one. I came across so many
> of those in mangled condition that I finally made a set of dies to
> straighten them, so they could be reused.
>
>>  I have never turned the rotors , no point unless they are warped or
>> slightly grooved . Never had the calipers done the outer seals still look
>> good . I have only replaced the front pads once since 85 and the rear 
>> wheel
>> cylinders once because new kits leaked and the rear shoes three times.
>
> I never turn the rotors, but I'll replace them if they are well past
> the wear limit. Even if they are slightly grooved, the pads will bed
> into them rather quickly and this works just fine as long as you
> don't do any really hard stops in the first few dozen miles.
>
> It's odd that you've needed so many rear shoes. I have lots of new
> ones, but I've almost never needed to replace any. They tend to wear
> MUCH slower than the front pads.
>
> Rear cylinders must be honed when you rebuild them, to remove the
> rust buildup that keeps the seals from sealing, but this is easily
> done right on the car. Most of the time the OE parts will go back in
> and work well, once the bore is honed. This is a LOT easier and
> cheaper than replacing the cylinder, as long as the bleeder valve can
> be opened.
>
> BTW, William, you asked about the strainers I have for our ATs. The
> ones I have look brand new: no rust, no tarnish.
>
> -- 
> *******************************
> Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
> Madison, Wisconsin, USA
> *******************************
>
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