Does your van have the brake proportioning valve?  That could be sending too
much braking power to the rear?  I don't know if that is at all common.
Edward

On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 10:27 AM, Robert Downes <bobdownes@gmail.com> wrote:

> first the question, then the story.
>
> i'm searching around for a master cylinder rebuild kit because i know they
> exist, and i've never been inside a MC before, and found
> this <https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1286333,parttype,1840>.
>  i am always skeptical of these all-parts-for-all-cars websites that list
> inventory from warehouse indexes, so i invoke the wisdom of the list: if
> these are appropriate, why cant i find them anywhere else? if not, does a
> kit exist?
>
> AND, why am i planning to get all up in dat MC you ask? well, i rebuilt all
> my brakes mechanical-wise about 18 mos/20k miles back and they have never
> been perfect. when i hit the brakes fresh, the pedal sinks a bit deeper
> than
> it should, if i push hard it will bottom out(but i can still push harder
> for
> more braking force). if, however, i pump once, release, and then brake,
> they
> feel normal. ...and then after about 5 seconds the pedal falls into the
> usual routine.
> it has never felt close to dangerous, i have never lost a drop of fluid,
> the
> condition has never worsened.
>
> well, i was recently rotating tires and poking around a bit in prep for an
> upcoming round of shop time, and noticed this: my shoes are about gone, and
> my pads look like they have not worn at all. is that normal? i remember
> buying the higher-end pads, and the rotors tell me that they're doing *
> something*, but they've a solid 1/2" of meat left. is this normal? i admit
> i
> only *assume* that it is not. the master cylinder is the last thing more
> complicated than a tube that i haven't replaced/renewed, so it's next.
>
> prove me wrong, friends!
>
> -bob
> '83 transporter diesel L 1.6TD 5sp--"Kid Cassidy"
>