To expand on Ken's method, I leave the tire on, and adjust until the tire
can't be turned, then back off the adjuster 1 or 2 teeth, and repeat on the
other side.  Remember that the adjusters have opposite threads, i.e.
left-handed on the right, right-handed on the left IIRC.
bmc  :)
"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
> Reply-To: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
> Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 10:39:04 -0400
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: brake bleeding question
>
> The biggest thing that I have found to make the pedal feel more firm is to
> adjust the rear brakes properly.  Many times the system is bled fine but you
> are getting mushy pedal because the rear brakes are extending out too far
> before the shoes hit the drum.  What I do is actually have the tire off and
> the rear wheel jacked up.  Then turn the rear drum by hand.  I keep
> adjusting the rear brakes out until you can just start to hear/feel the
> brakes touching the inside of the drum a little.  Then do this on the other
> side.  You will be amazed at how high of a pedal you now have and I have
> never had this cause a problem.  Other folks on the list recommended this
> method to me and it works well.
> Just FYI.
>
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> http://www.vanagain.com
> Phone: (856)-327-4936
> Fax: (856)-327-2242
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Todd Last
> Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2002 12:04 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: brake bleeding question
>
>
> I'm trying to bleed the brakes on my '88 Vanagon after replacing the
> master cylinder, calipers, rear wheel cylinders, and brake hoses.
> I purchased one of those one-man power bleeders. It has a container with
> an attached pump (think bicycle pump) and a hose connected to a cap that
> replaces the normal top cap on the brake fluid resovour.  You fill the
> container with brake fluid, pump it up to 10-15 psi, and then open the
> bleeders at each wheel and supposedly, all is well.
>
> I went thought the process once, bleeding the wheels in the correct
> order and waiting until a volume of fresh brake fluid came out, however,
> the brakes are still not firm. The pedal sinks down a fair amount before
> the brakes take hold.  So, I'm convinced that I will have to go through
> the bleeding process yet again. I had done my best to prefill the master
> before installing.
>
> Are there any other tricks that anyone can pass on about having a
> successfull brake bleeding ?
>
>
> thanks,
>
>
> Todd
> '88 Westy
>