Sounds like one the checks in the master cylinder failed. With the reservoir
visible push on the pedal. If there is any sign of fluid going back in when
pressing the master is the problem. When the brakes were done was the
bleeders opened on the calipers opened when the pistons were pushed back in
or was that fluid pushed back up into the master? That can often be a cause
of master failure after a brake job.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Harry Hoffman
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 9:45 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Help Please, Lost Brakes :-(

Hi All,

So I was driving all today and all of the sudden my brakes stopped working.

I was attempting to slow down coming to a stop sign when the pedal went
straight to the floor.

I pumped the brake pedal and got pressure back when attempting to depress
the pedal but then eventually it the pedal went back down to the floor.

Sometimes the pedal will drop to the floor without any resistance and other
times there will be some resistance before hitting the floor.

The reservoir is still at the max level and the emergency brake is holding
on a incline.

It's a 1989 vanagon with the bostig setup.

Both front discs and rear drums were replaced ~ 1000mi ago.

Help, please!

Cheers,
Harry