Ditto for old bugs too! Same thing happened to me on my 56 Beetle!

Ric

At 02:49 PM 5/19/2003 -0700, Stan Wilder wrote:
>After installing a new master cylinder on this 66 Westy I took her for a
>little spin and made a few scheduled panic stops.
>On about number five panic stop I blew a wheel cylinder plunger out of
>the cylinder.
>Duh! First ever for me.
>I found that I had not properly adjusted the front brake shoe and I'm
>guessing that the drums may be reaching their outer limits.
>Not a big deal replacing the seal and making the proper adjustments but I
>sure am glad I though to give it a thorough testing before I blasted out
>on a lengthy run.
>Strange thing, I've driven this van 2700 miles like this (ill adjusted
>brakes) and everything seemed fine. I'm guessing that the secondary brake
>area of the old master cylinder was bleeding by and not applying enough
>pressure to blow the plunger out.
>With careful examination and adjustments to both rear wheels I'm
>confident that this event can't happen again.
>What I learned ............... old vans need precision brake adjustments
>and if they are left too long with bad or worn out brake shoes this could
>happen again.
>
>Stan Wilder
>
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