I think you got lucky with Meyle. GW sells the ATE for $19.95.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Craig Cowan
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2014 8:09 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Brakes-

There are other brands then the ATE with the spring. I just had a set from
ken willford (vanagain) that were well priced and did have the spring, I
have found them to work as well as the ATE and OEM ones. Let me see If I can
figure out the brand.

-craig

> On Apr 25, 2014, at 7:46 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
wrote:
>
> I know others have chimed in. the usual cause of this effect is the
> combination of the shoes not adjusting properly and the wrong wheel
> cylinders. The only cylinders I know of that have the piston push out
> spring is the ATE. Even if you go to the dealer they will likely
> supply the Brazilian sourced cylinders and they will not have the
> spring.  The pistons sucking back will cause the low pedal and require
> a pump them out every time until some age makes them get stiff enough
> to stay out on their own. Many cars used residual pressure checks on
> the hydraulics to counter act this effect. Also, since the cylinders
> and the adjusters are on the same side of the shoes, the cylinder
> pistons have to stay out further as the shoes wear and the adjusters push
them out.
>
> The next issue is the lining thickness. I have yet to find a shoe set
> that replaces the OEM. The originals were a semi-metallic lining,
> riveted, and 6mm above the rivets. The thinner material of the
> replacement shoes means the drum does not get filled and the arch does
> not match. This causes the shoes to only wear and provide friction at
> the top. This seriously reduces the braking effect. The lower shoes
> rests can be shimmed out. Go check the archives for articles I have posted
in the past.
>
> While rare another cause of this problem can be the rear brake
> pressure regulator. I have replaced a few.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Geneva Saint-Amour
> Sent: Friday, April 25, 2014 11:52 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Brakes-
>
> Hey there!
> We recently replaced the rear brake pads and discovered a leaky cylinder.
> So we took it to BrakeMasters for new cylinders (and new drums).  Just
> picked it up and the brakes feel great and grippy..... but the first
> pedal-push is smooshy and close to the floor.  The second pedal push
> seems to "pump it up" and feel higher.  Ideas, suggestions?
> 1985 Vanagon/Westfalia/Hightop/Bostig