Thanks Neil.  It's not that the shoe is not returning properly.  If
you watch the video you can see the piston moves out and hits it and
pushes it off the adjuster.  Then the spring pulls it back to its
position on the adjuster.  The problem is that the piston then
continues moving back into the cylinder.  I don't think this is
supposed to happen.  I think hydraulic brake systems have a property
where the pistons stay up against the hardware (shoe or pad) and move
out incrementally to make up for wear, and only get pushed back in
when you replace the pads or shoes.

It is kind of cool to see the adjuster work, I've always wondered
about that.  After a few of these tests, I had to ratchet the
adjuster back because it had turned far enough I couldn't get the
drum back on.

Edward

At 10:01 PM 3/23/2009, neil N wrote:

>I see what you mean about the gap between shoe and piston.
>
>Obviously the reason the RH piston travels before LH piston is due
>this gap. The RH shoe is not returning properly.
>
>Are the return springs on correctly?
>
>Is the adjusting/push rod installed correctly?
>
>
>
>
>Neil.
>
>
>
>--
>Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>
>http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
>http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines