[T3] Broken Brakes?

[Jim Adney]

What the MC looks like on the outside is pretty much irrelevant. Take it apart 
and inspect the bore.

When you checked the bleed valves, did you have someone pump the brake 
pedal while you watched, or were you just watching for fluid to drip out? If 
the latter, get someone to pump while you watch. Check the fluid reservoir 
first to make sure that both sides are full up to the seam.

If you have fluid and if nothing comes out even with someone pushing on the 
pedal, Remove the bleed valve completely to make sure it's not plugged by 
rust or dirt. If nothing still comes out, it's no likely to be a wheel cylinder 
problem. It's more likely to be a hose or MC problem, but that can be hard to 
pin down. Try loosening connections, working your way forward from the 
rear wheels until you get fluid coming out. Once you get fluid, you know the 
blockage is somewhere after that point and before the previous point where 
fluid did not come out.

It's also possible that your main line to the rear has rusted out under the gas 
pedal and you just haven't noticed the smell or wetness under the carpet. I 
can make correct rear lines, but they are a PITA to replace.

Jim

On 8 May 2017 at 22:42, J. Jonik wrote:

> It's pretty certain that master cylinder ('71, Std.) needs to be replaced, but today, just to get prepped to do that job...with a nicely wrapped, unrusted, good-when-salvaged-from-parts-car, master cylinder... I went around to check brake pads.  Replaced just one.
>    Thought to bleed brakes just to see what would happen.  Two front valves gave nice, bubble-free squirts.  Left rear just dribbled...after an audible whiff of air.  Right rear did the little whiff of air too...but not a drop of fluid came out...despite multiple attempts.  I even let it sit a bit to see if it would just leak.  Nothing.

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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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