I don't think air in the lines was all of the problem. I did end up
replacing the brake pressure reducer with a part off of one of Mark
I's parts vans. Now I'm back bleeding the lines. It definitely makes a
difference. Where before I would have to pump 5 or 6 times (and might
hear the buzzing/flapping sound at around 5 or 6.) Now I get brake
pedal pressure after only a couple of pumps, which is much more
consistent with air in the lines.

On Aug 1, 2009, at 11:40 AM, Jake de Villiers wrote:

> Hey Kim, you might simply have an air bubble in there.
>
> On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 11:29 PM, Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@mac.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Yep. I had a friend put his hand on it while I pumped the pedal and
>> it
>> is definitely the source of the noise. Maybe I'll take a trip out to
>> Mark I VW and see if I can get one off of his parts Vans...
>>
>> On Jul 31, 2009, at 8:32 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>
>> 'pressure reducer device' ........
>>> that brake pressure limiter thing under the right front, up in
>>> there ?
>>>
>>> If that's the part you mean.......be very surprising if it's the
>>> source of a
>>> noise.
>>> If I thought that, I'd just pop on a used one.
>>> I have many of them, on parts vans.
>>>
>>> I have also purchased and installed an adjustable one .......a
>>> racing part.
>>> for a rear disc brake SVX Syncro vanagon. That's one way to get a
>>> new one.
>>> I rigged that one so I could reach in the right front wheel well,
>>> and turn
>>> the bias adjustment on it.
>>> Scott
>>> www.turbovan.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Kim Brennan" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 3:57 PM
>>> Subject: Re: Brakes, reprise
>>>
>>>
>>> Brand new master cylinder and o-ring. No sign of brake fluid in the
>>>> booster (though I have one available to put in if thats the
>>>> problem.)
>>>> I'm really tending to think that the noise is from the pressure
>>>> reducer device. Which is NLA of course. Van-Cafe is temporarly
>>>> out of
>>>> used ones, though they expect a couple in next week.
>>>>
>>>> I like how Van-cafe says, "rarely fails, but NLA new" in the
>>>> description for their used ones. Sort of a critical part to the
>>>> brakes. Oh, well, the price of an 18 year old vehicle...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jul 31, 2009, at 6:35 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I'd check the o-ring that's between the master cylinder and
>>>> booster.
>>>>> I'd also look for signs of brake fluid inside the booster,
>>>>> and deteriorated paint on it......from brake fluid leaking from
>>>>> the
>>>>> master cylinder.
>>>>>
>>>>> it's odd............great breaking when it's making the sound.
>>>>> My attention is sure drawn to the booster.
>>>>> and the vacuum nose from engine to brake booster.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have seen twice............what looked like to be an ice pick
>>>>> hole poked into a vanagon plastic line.......
>>>>> for no reason 'at all'..............just a hole in the plastic
>>>>> line,
>>>>> appearing to be punctured in from the outside.
>>>>>
>>>>> One was a vacuum brake booster line.
>>>>> one was a plastic coolant bleed rail around the top of a 2.1
>>>>> waterboxer engine compartment. And no explanation of how those
>>>>> holes
>>>>> got there at all.
>>>>>
>>>>> thanks for saying it's a Westy Syncro .  Will be interested to see
>>>>> what you find.
>>>>> Scott
>>>>> www.turbovans.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kim Brennan"
>>>>> <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
>>>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 2:43 PM
>>>>> Subject: Brakes, reprise
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Welp, I had hopes that the issue with my brakes on my Westy Syncro
>>>>>> was
>>>>>> the master cylinder. But no such luck. Problem still exists. A
>>>>>> review,
>>>>>> when braking, if I pump the brakes, I'll get braking, but usually
>>>>>> all
>>>>>> the way down at the floor. Occasionally I will hear a airy
>>>>>> buzzing
>>>>>> sound from the center of the dash and on those occasions, I will
>>>>>> get
>>>>>> braking at the top of the pedal.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Since that's come from the center of the dash area, I'll have to
>>>>>> follow the sound.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>
>
> --
> Beverley Anne de Villiers   April 20, 1930 - July 4, 2009
>
> Jake
>
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>
> Crescent Beach, BC
>
> www.thebassspa.com
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27