Got a chance to test my brakes the other day.  Was gathering speed on the
freeway up a hill and shortly after I crest the hill(no vision obstruction
here) some idiot in the right hand lane(SUV no less) pulls to a complete
stop on the freeway because a state trooper was on the side of the road with
blue lights flashing.

Good news is I hammered the brake pedal instinctively and locked the brakes
up full bore, thought I was going to hit the goober, and ended up about 5'
from his rear.  The van(90GL) stayed in the right hand lane and rotated ever
so slightly counter clockwise, maybe 15 degrees.

Glad I had new master cylinder in there, fresh brake fluid to all four
lines, new rear cylinders in the last year, and 18 mo. old front pads.  Went
to look for the screech marks the next day, but couldn't locate them(was
curious as to the stopping distance from 55mph), tires?  Michelin Agilis
61's

Someday I'll put the stainless steel brake lines on the van, but other
priorities exist right now.

Dimwitted Moose and Flyng Squirrel
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Alofs" <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 9:47 AM
Subject: Re: spongie brakes

> Paul Gilland wrote:
>
> > Yesterday I hit the brakes hard in my 83.5 waterboxer Westie to avoid
> > an accident.  Thankfully, the accident was avoided and all is well,
> > but now the brakes are spongie - it's even loosing brake pressure at
> > stop lights and sometimes I have to pump the brakes to stop.  Not
> > safe, I know.
> >
> > Where should I look first - the master cylinder or the individual
> > calipers/cylinders.  It couldn't simply be air bubbles could it?  I
> > bled the brakes in December of 2000.
> >
> > thanks,
> >
> > Paul
> >
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
> Master cylinder.  It's possible to buy the rubber parts and rebuild it,
> but it's safer to buy one that was done professionally.
>   I had a very similar situation with my '84.  Stomped on it too hard in
> a panic stop on the expressway, half the seals in the master cylinder
> blew, did not stop quickly, rear-ended the Bronco in front of me.
>   I guess we should test our brakes *vigorously* from time to time.
>
> Larry A.
> Chicago
> 91 GL