The pumping bringing them up a bit can be the result of a number of other problems. 
Rear cylinders without the springs to prevent the pistons from retracting. Bad rear brake assembly or adjustment. Defective rear brake pressure regulator. 

The first two are easy to diagnose. Set the handbrake and hit the brake pedal once. Let go, wait a bit and hit the pedal again. If it stays firm with the handbrake set then the problem is in the mechanicals. 

Dennis 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Bryan Feddish
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2012 4:05 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Brake bleeding problems

OK. I did 2 rounds of the "yell at your wife" method of brake bleeding,  Got allot of air out.  The brakes feel like they do whenever I have gotten the van back from any of my mechanics in the past. That meaning the pedal goes down as far as it always has and a little pumping the brakes firms them up a bit.  This my third master cylinder BTW and my brakes have always shown this behavior.  They've always firmed up a bit when pumping.  Maybe I'll try bleeding again this weekend.  Also, the brakes don't feel "great" because I have new pads up front and need to wear them in a bit.

Thanks,
Bryan