Two thoughts:.

If your brake fluid has never been changed, there could be corrosion on
your caliper pistons that are causing enough stick that they do not
retract correctly.

The caliper housing slide on two pins. They are the two that have rubber
accordion boots over them. If you do not keep these lubricated with
caliper grease, or if the boots are broken and have allowed dirt inside,
this will impede the ability of the caliper to retract.

Todd
'88 Westy

Chuck Hill wrote:

>I'm having a problem with the front brakes on an '86 Vanagon that I
>can't explain.  The brakes drag seriously hard on the front only and the
>pads and discs get very hot in a 1/2 mile drive.  Like when I put my
>infra-red remote temperature sensor, it's off the readable range in a
>drive of this distance.  The van will only pull about 50 mph with full
>throttle.
>
>The problem doesn't change when I disconnect the vacuum line for the
>brakes back in the engine compartment.  Both front calipers seem equally
>affected, and the temperatures are about equal if I only drive it a
>couple of blocks and then check.
>
>I've never heard of a problem like this coming from the brake
>proportioning valve, but I'm wondering if this is it?  What else could
>it be?  I'm thinking that the master cylinder plumbing is such that the
>right front and left rear brakes activate off one half and the rest from
>the other part.  Bently doesn't show the brake hydraulic circuit, that
>I'm aware of.
>
>So, I'm stumped, and asking for help.  please.  pretty please.
>
>Chuck Hill
>