First you need to determine if the pulse is from the front or rear. Try
stopping with the handbrake. If the rears are causing a pulse it will be
apparent.

It is common for the rear drums to be damaged if they were pried off the
hubs or the shoes. If pried the backing plates are probably also damaged. To
make things worse the drum can also be messed up being put back on
especially if an overzealous guy with the impact wrench relied on the wheel
to get the drums seated again.

Not all front brake pulsations are due to warped or bad rotors. Bad pad
choices and sticking calipers can cause the new pads to seat unevenly and
glaze the rotor surface which can cause pulsations. I can't believe that
someone knowledgeable would replace pads and rotors without making darn sure
the calipers were good. Since the rotors were cut below spec you know
incompetent folks have been working on this van. At the point of rotors and
pads Calipers and hoses should have been considered regardless. No brake job
is really complete without the hydraulics.

Pad and shoe choice is extremely critical on the Vanagon especially with the
small size of the brake system. Metal masters up front and OEM (dealer)
rears are the best option. Rear cylinders should be ATE if possible and also
get the rear hardware kit form the dealer. Check the archives for my
suggestions on shimming the lower shoe mounts.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mark Drexler
Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 4:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Need advice on Brake issues

Guys, I need your advice on a brake service issue. Took my just purchased 91
GL in for safety check to get plates in Ontario.

Brakes worked perfectly on the way in. I was told rotors were below VW spec,
so they were replaced, and I sprung for pads also. Rears were 'just in spec'
so we left the rears alone, just serviced/lubricated them. Also changed
fluid.

When I got it back there was a pulse in the brake pedal, speed dependant.

Garage position: The drums were out of round. And these contributed to the
pulsing. Sticky caliper also. To fix, need to change drums and maybe
calipers.

My position: Brakes were perfect on way in, so something changed. The rears
didn't cause a pulse before, so how can they now?

Sticky caliper doesn't create that symptom does it? I am thinking the only
source of the pulse is a warped rotor installed by the tech.

What do you guys think?

Thanks.

Mark