hmmm.  With this test the pedal is real firm and stays that way. It’s always
been like that.  I can always tell if I left the handbrake on when I start
to drive  if my brake pedal is real firm.

Where do I go from here?

Thanks,
Bryan

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Haynes
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2012 7:39 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Brake bleeding problems

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