folks, thanks for the suggestions...
after pushing through a few quarts of brake fluid...
and spending 64$ to have the local vw shop give it a
whirl too...

=it turns out there are no bubbles, but instead the
brakes are terrible because there is a leak between
the master cylinder body and the booster. THAT was the
"whoosh" i would hear when pressing the brake pedal.

I have not tried to fix it yet, but now have the
problem pin-pointed.

Cheers
matthew

"may the four winds blow you safely home"

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