Spongy New Brakes

Moderators: Sluggo, Amskeptic

Post Reply
Curtp07
Getting Hooked!
Status: Offline

Spongy New Brakes

Post by Curtp07 » Thu Sep 07, 2017 7:13 am

1975 VW BUS

All new brake hardware on every wheel. New brake switches.

Brakes occasionally feel "spongy" i.e. When stopping sometimes the pedal will feel firm, other times it goes halfway to floor. Also the brake warning light is on when no brake pressure applied...off when brake pressure applied.

Steps:

1. Reveled brakes front and rear.
2. Change brake switches
3. Make sure rear shoes adjusted correctly
4. Test vacuum booster

More to come.

User avatar
Amskeptic
IAC "Help Desk"
IAC "Help Desk"
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by Amskeptic » Thu Sep 07, 2017 9:36 am

Curtp07 wrote:
Thu Sep 07, 2017 7:13 am
All new brake hardware on every wheel. New brake switches.

Brakes occasionally feel "spongy" i.e. When stopping sometimes the pedal will feel firm, other times it goes halfway to floor. Also the brake warning light is on when no brake pressure applied...off when brake pressure applied.

Steps:

1. Reveled brakes front and rear.
2. Change brake switches
3. Make sure rear shoes adjusted correctly
4. Test vacuum booster

More to come.
Protocol in the Technical Forums is to please identify your model/year vehicle so we can hunt down wiring diagrams and whatnot.
Colin
(are your new brake switches certifiably not Euromax?)
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

Curtp07
Getting Hooked!
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by Curtp07 » Mon Sep 11, 2017 7:09 am

Euromax..not sure.

Purchased from Bus Depot....

User avatar
sgkent
Addicted!
Location: Citrus Heights CA (near Sacramento)
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by sgkent » Mon Sep 11, 2017 9:34 am

bleed the brakes thoroughly. make sure the booster push rod is properly adjusted if you replaced the master. Follow Colin's steps also.
TBone208 wrote: "You ppl are such windbags. Go use your crystal ball to get rich & predict something meaningful. Nobody knows what's going to happen. How are we supposed to take ppl who don't know the definition of a recession & "woman" seriously?"

Merlin The Wrench

Curtp07
Getting Hooked!
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by Curtp07 » Tue Sep 12, 2017 6:36 pm

Replaced both brake switches with non euromax. Bled all brakes.

Still warning light on until brake pressed then off...ugh

User avatar
Amskeptic
IAC "Help Desk"
IAC "Help Desk"
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by Amskeptic » Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:25 pm

Curtp07 wrote:
Tue Sep 12, 2017 6:36 pm
Replaced both brake switches with non euromax. Bled all brakes.

Still warning light on until brake pressed then off...ugh
Need model year (month of manufacture, too) so we can address electrical.

I've met Ugh. You, sir, are no Ugh.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

User avatar
sgkent
Addicted!
Location: Citrus Heights CA (near Sacramento)
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by sgkent » Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:33 am

I've met Ugh. You, sir, are no Ugh.
Colin
meet Ugh

Image
TBone208 wrote: "You ppl are such windbags. Go use your crystal ball to get rich & predict something meaningful. Nobody knows what's going to happen. How are we supposed to take ppl who don't know the definition of a recession & "woman" seriously?"

Merlin The Wrench

Curtp07
Getting Hooked!
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by Curtp07 » Thu Sep 14, 2017 7:22 pm

I'm close..

Working on getting the date of manufacture..

Curtp07
Getting Hooked!
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by Curtp07 » Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:42 pm

Well..update.

Bought warning light from Steve. Thank you Steve.

Problem solved,,,warning light illuminates key on. Goes out engine start!

Hooray for the team!

Ugh in training

User avatar
Amskeptic
IAC "Help Desk"
IAC "Help Desk"
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by Amskeptic » Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:34 am

Curtp07 wrote:
Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:42 pm
Well..update.

Bought warning light from Steve. Thank you Steve.

Problem solved,,,warning light illuminates key on. Goes out engine start!

Hooray for the team!

Ugh in training

Really? It was the warning light itself?
UghWannabe
(did SG Kent call it?)
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

Curtp07
Getting Hooked!
Status: Offline

Re: Spongy New Brakes

Post by Curtp07 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:50 pm

Don't recall if Steve called it, or it was on our list.

Bus is running AWESOME. Next years visit will be for the orange one Colin.

I certainly tip my hat to all of you.....

:)

Post Reply