[T3] be-brake bracket problem

[Soren Jacobsen]

> On Jul 1, 2018, at 8:59 AM, Jim Adney <jadney at vwtype3.org> wrote:
> 
> On 1 Jul 2018 at 0:24, Soren Jacobsen wrote:
> 
>> 1965: http://blef.org/vw/t3/handbrakebracket_1965.jpg
>> 1968: http://blef.org/vw/t3/handbrakebracket_1968.jpg
> 
> I also couldn't see the welds. They're more impressive than I was expecting.
> Could be hard to cut one out of a Beetle and leave enough to reuse.

I don't think it'd be too much of a problem to cut one out without wrecking it; you'd just have to be OK with giving up on the rest of the chassis.  The main thing I'd be concerned about is finding a bracket that that you knew wasn't already worn out.  I'll be chopping up that 1968 chassis eventually, and I'll make an effort to save the bracket.  My recollection is that it's fine.

> On the late bracket, the welds at the rear look resonable, but what are the 
> dimples at the front? Are they the locations of spot welds, or are they just 
> locating points? I expected to see some actual welds at the front, otherwise I 
> don't see how that part would be secure when we pull up on the lever.

Those are spot welds, and there are no other welds at the front.  Seems kinda weak compared to the way they welded in the early bracket, doesn't it?  Yet another example of VW getting lazy, cheap, and complacent over the years ;)

Soren