At 10:00 AM 01/24/2000 -0800, you wrote:
>Everyone -
>
>I seem to remember something about needing to flush the braking systems on
our Vanagons roughly every two years.  What is this supposed to do for you?

It removes the moisture laden old fluid and nasty residues created therefrom.

> What happens if you don't do it?

Moisture will precipitate into water droplets inside the system and create
gummy varnishes and coorosion in some medium spendy parts.

>
>My 89 Vanagon is currently having a problem where the pedal is soft
initially, but pumping it brings the pressure back up.  I am wondering if I
should flush all the lines when I get this problem fixed.

A good chance that flushing and bleeding the system will SOLVE the problem.
Consider, however, that the new fluid will act like a solvent and dissolve
the crud inside the system and something can then begin leaking. Flush and
bleed the system them monitor your fluid level for several weeks to
anticipate any follow up repairs before you have no pedal due to fluid loss.

If that doesn't solve the problem, then test the booster for vaccum leaking
through the diaphram.

T.P. Stephens aka Doktor Tim
San Juan Island, WA