Rear Brakes

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hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
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Rear Brakes

Post by hambone » Wed May 12, 2010 12:25 pm

I hope to tackle the rear brakes on my bus this Friday. Anyone want to stop by and help stomp on the breaker bar please feel free to do so!
I will PB Blast the hell out of the axle nuts and pray for the best. Any tips?
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Gypsie
rusty aircooled mekanich
Location: Treadin' Lightly under the Clear Blue!
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Post by Gypsie » Wed May 12, 2010 12:29 pm

When you get your socket on it give it a few taps with some light torque in both directions and if possible a drift for some light axial tapping. Better yet is to get your handy impact wrench on the nut and start by giving a few thumps toward tight before starting to loosen. This can help loosen crystalized rusty stuff.
So it all started when I wanted to get better gas mileage....

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ruckman101
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Post by ruckman101 » Wed May 12, 2010 2:59 pm

I might have a dandy torque wrench with a four foot handle I can bring over. Makes the job sooooooo much easier. Any particular time?


neal
The slipper has no teeth.

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hambone
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Location: Portland, Ore.
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Post by hambone » Wed May 12, 2010 3:03 pm

Ooooooo that would be great.
I hope to get started mid morning but that may be hard for you being a nite-owly. Let me know.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

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Manfred
Old School!
Location: Chicago
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Post by Manfred » Thu May 13, 2010 10:22 am

Just wondering why you need to remove the axial nut to do the rear brakes? Is there something I'm missing?
1978 Westy FI
hambone wrote:Some times ya gotta wing it.

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hambone
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Location: Portland, Ore.
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Post by hambone » Thu May 13, 2010 10:23 am

Early Bays are different than late. Ya need to or I wouldn't. :geek:
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http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

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sped372
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Location: Waunakee, WI
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Post by sped372 » Thu May 13, 2010 10:44 am

I've had good luck with those whacker things. Don't know what they're officially called but it's a thick steel plate with the hex pattern for the axle nut and a square hole for your breaker bar. You put torque on with the breaker bar and go to town on the lobe of the plate with your bfh.
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX

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sped372
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Post by sped372 » Thu May 13, 2010 10:47 am

This thing.

Image

I match-mark and use a cheater pipe to torque it back down upon reassembly.[/img]
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX

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hambone
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Location: Portland, Ore.
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Post by hambone » Thu May 13, 2010 10:49 am

I've heard that (Empi) tool is decent. But I've already invested a zillion on a new Craftsman TM socket.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

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sped372
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Post by sped372 » Thu May 13, 2010 10:52 am

I hear you. I have a socket as well as the crappy plate tool. Sometimes you just need some impacts to break things loose. I wouldn't subject a nice socket to that... I have no qualms about whacking a piece of plate steel.
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX

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hambone
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Post by hambone » Thu May 13, 2010 10:58 am

I have an air impact gun too, but I'm thinking the torque will be too high on the nut. We'll see.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

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sped372
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Post by sped372 » Thu May 13, 2010 11:32 am

I don't have any experience using an impact gun on my nuts. :drunken:
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX

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Runamuck Bus
Getting Hooked!
Location: Western PA
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Post by Runamuck Bus » Thu May 13, 2010 12:31 pm

It is a 'Slug Wrench'. There are many varieties, that is just one.
Endeavor to Persevere.
'72 Weekender

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hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
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Post by hambone » Fri May 14, 2010 11:11 pm

Done! The whole job took me 8 hours including adjusting the front brakes and lubing the front end. Neal came by with a beautiful old craftsman heavy duty torque wrench which promptly snapped off the head and I felt terrible. The impact gun did it, after stomping on it with the breaker bar and PB blasting. Now I have nice new brakes with only a few clicks on the emergency brake.
Adjusters are like buttah. It's important to clean them well and lightly lube or they will sieze. I used 320 paper and a brass wire brush. Was able to unstick them all but 1 had to be replaced.
New springs too. I learned my lesson reusing old springs when both my fronts broke last year.
Man I'm glad that's done, but the brakes are much much better.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

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hercdriver
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Post by hercdriver » Sat May 15, 2010 9:41 am

hambone wrote: It's important to clean them well and lightly lube or they will sieze.
Watcha using for lube? Anti-sieze?
66 Beetle
75 Westy

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