Yes. I hear a soft "whoosh" but could be a hiss. Pretty sure that part
is normal.

Feel of pedal changes when booster vacuum expired. I'm just about
certain booster is working properly.  But.....

I get what you're saying. Check pedal with engine off + vacuum gone
and see if  pedal is sinking. i.e. feels like a failed MC.

Neil.

On 3/23/10, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> Does the booster hiss each time you pump the pedal with the motor running?
>
> When you pump the pedal after turning off the motor, does the pedal lose its
> sogginess as the vacuum gets hissed away?  It should get hard as a rock and
> have very little travel.
>
> On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 11:17 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Thanks much Jake.
>>
>> I'll visually double check, but no. Not to floor. I just feel a and
>> hear a subtle dull "thud" when pedal stops. But not like metal on
>> metal.
>>
>> I'll check under Mark D for post regarding booster. But damn. Booster
>> was new at time of MC.
>>
>> I'll also inspect check valve etc. It's from an '85 (for engine swap)
>>
>> Ack. At least I saved the old one! ha!
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>> On 3/23/10, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Damn, I'm up to my eyeballs right now what with the Subaru install and
>> uh,
>> > work or I'd come on over there!
>> >
>> > Pedal goes down to where - floor or ?
>> >
>> > Kinda sounds like your booster isn't.
>> > I'm pretty sure Mark posted on boosters recently - you might do a quick
>> scan
>> > of the Archives...
>> >
>> > On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 10:50 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> On 3/23/10, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > You drove my '84 and used the brakes, no? On any car, the pedal
>> >> > should
>> >> NEVER
>> >> > bottom out - you have a serious problem there neighbour!
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Yes I drove it thanks, but not enough to recall pedal feel. I do know
>> >> that your brakes "grabbed" better. Like less effort, more positive
>> >> braking feel.
>> >>
>> >> Ok. Read your email. Took it out for a spin.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> > Does the pedal 'pump up'?  i.e., if you mash it repeatedly does the
>> >> travel
>> >> > shorten/pedal become firmer as air in the system compresses?
>> >> > Otherwise you are having a hydraulic pressure loss which is usually a
>> >> master
>> >> > cylinder problem.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Not really. Maybe a **little** firmer + higher pedal. Repeated
>> >> pushing, I hear the booster, but pushing fairly hard, pedal will go
>> >> down until I hear/feel a subtle "thud" as pedal stops.
>> >>
>> >> Feels like air in system but maybe MC is faulty. Should be ok as was
>> >> new a few years/low KM"s ago but .... <shrugs>
>> >>
>> >> Though I'm too precautious about not setting shoes too "tight" drum,
>> >> they should be ok. i.e. engine running, standing on brakes, set
>> >> e-brake, pedal stays same height.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> > When you start the motor with your foot on the brake pedal after
>> having
>> >> > pumped it a couple of times, does the pedal push back up?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> No.  Pump it a few times, hold pedal down, start, pedal sinks a little.
>> >>
>> >> Help much appreciated,
>> >>
>> >> Neil.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> > Concerned in Crescent Beach
>> >> >
>> >> > On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 8:54 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Hi all.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I've owned one Vanagon. I know what an outright "wrong" pedal feels
>> >> >> like but not what a proper Vanagon brake pedal feels like. Like from
>> >> >> 0-10, 2 -3 = normal driving pedal pressure, 10 = total stain yer
>> pants
>> >> >> panic stop pressure, pushed at level 7, my pedal eventually stops
>> >> >> against what I assume is metal. Brakes fine otherwise. I've done
>> >> >> lots
>> >> >> of work on them (* below)
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Does this mean air in system? Should a good pedal NEVER bottom out?
>> >> >> Like pushed to 10, should it feel like it's up against something
>> solid
>> >> >> but not bottoming out against a stop of some kind?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> To ensure air not the culprit, I pressure bled them. (finally built
>> >> >> a
>> >> >> pressure bleeder. Used one-man valve before). Pressurizing reservoir
>> >> >> with air to 12 PSI, I saw a steady stream from all bleeders, NO
>> >> >> bubbles, no change in pedal feel over previous method. Of note,
>> fronts
>> >> >> bled noticeably faster. Used ~ 3/4 litre.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> In archives, these caught my eye: Rear wheel cylinder position
>> >> >> (early
>> >> >> MY) and brake switch(s) air bound. (MC replacement)
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Again no point of reference, but for some time it's seemed that my
>> >> >> pedal requires slightly more than normal pressure required to
>> activate
>> >> >> brake lights.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I replaced MC not long after buying Westy. I don't recal bleeding
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> switch. How is this done? Likely that info is in archives.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> It drives with no *real* issues. I just want to be sure there's NO
>> air
>> >> >> in system.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thanks for taking time to read.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Neil.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> * AFAIK, only parts not replaced over last few years: hard lines
>> >> >> from
>> >> >> MC to calipers. Proportioning valve. All replaced parts still ok.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Over last few years (calipers + related not long ago)
>> >> >>
>> >> >> - Booster, (check valve too IIRC) pedal cluster rebuilt, MC. Checked
>> >> >> push rod spec.
>> >> >> - Flex hoses, calipers, pads, hardware, rotors/bearings
>> >> >> - Drums, shoes (Raybestos deluxe) hardware, cylinders. From prop.
>> >> >> valve to rear, all steel and flex lines
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>> >> >>
>> >> >> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > Jake
>> >> >
>> >> > 1984 Vanagon GL
>> >> > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>> >> >
>> >> > Crescent Beach, BC
>> >> >
>> >> > www.thebassspa.com
>> >> > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>> >> > http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>> >>
>> >> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Jake
>> >
>> > 1984 Vanagon GL
>> > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>> >
>> > Crescent Beach, BC
>> >
>> > www.thebassspa.com
>> > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>> > http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>>
>> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>
>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
>
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>
> Crescent Beach, BC
>
> www.thebassspa.com
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>

--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines