Bill,

There are several 'could be's' here.  The cheapest and easiest is the brake
fluid.  When was the last time your brake fluid was changed?  If the fluid
has been in there more than a couple of years, changing the fluid and
bleeding the system may bring the pedal back to life.  Fresh fluid is a
whole lot cheaper than a new master cylinder.  Next I would check the
condition of the flexible hoses since these are fairly easy to see and tend
to get funky with age as well.  You'll also want to check the wheel
cylinders as well.  Tossing in a new master cylinder won't do any good if
you have problems with the other parts -- neither will changing the fluid
but that only eats a few bucks and a little time.

My van was showing the same sort of symptoms last year before I changed the
fluid.  The system tightened right up with a load of fresh.  I used one of
those garden sprayer type pressure bleeders to flush the system -- the whole
job took about 30 minutes including time to read the instructions, find the
wrench and round up a large Taco Bell cup for the old fluid.  If the
"Southwest" that you're in is anywhere near Houston I'd be happy to help out
with yours.

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'

on 3/2/03 9:46 AM, Automatic digest processor at LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
wrote:

> Date:    Sun, 2 Mar 2003 08:18:01 -0700
> From:    Bill N <freeholder@STARBAND.NET>
> Subject: Re: How many Vanagon list members (and my brakes)
>
> snip<
>
> Now, let's talk about my brakes.  The pedal goes almost to the floor.  If I
> pump them up, I can
> lock up the wheels, but steady pressure and the pedal slowly goes down.  Is it
> master cylinder
> time?  Is it possible that bleeding would fix this?  Is there a brake witch on
> the list who can
> fix them with a spell for a good price?  Where is Hermione when I need her.  A
> wave of the wand
> and everything would be fine.
>
> Bill in the Southwest.