So I think I've read threads here about brake pedal height, before and after
bleeding and after replacing master cylinders, etc.

My 87 is still relatively new to me, I have no idea what pads, rotors, shoes
and drums are on it.  I recently rebuilt the front calipers (no pad change),
stainless braid all around, adjusted the rear drums and installed a new
master brake cylinder.  Everything seems normal and my new brake pedal
height is the same as with the old M/C after pump-up.  Then I read a thread
somewhere that said the driver could lock up their front wheels in a panic
stop.  I decided to try this: 1. To see how the van would handle in this
situation, 2. To see if I could get my brakes to lock up, and 3. Get an idea
of the stopping distance I may need in a "situation".  I only did this in
town with a top speed of around 35MPH.

I could not get any of the wheels to lock up, but after the second try, I
realized that it would never happen on dry pavement since all four wheels
are coupled together in the Syncro system (the previous statement must have
been with a 2WD).  The handling was straight and true with no side to side
pulling, and the nose diving was not as severe as I thought it would be.
All the while, learning what type of distances I need to make a stop.

Thanks for sticking with me to this point.

So here is my observation after a few hard stops.  The brake pedal now has
resistance sooner, i.e., the pedal is a bit higher for a regular stop.  How
much, I can't really say, but it definitely feels higher and BETTER
(slightly less mushiness).

So what do you think happened here?

-Dick Wong-
78 Scirocco
Original Owner
87 Vanagon GL Syncro 2.5 (Blaze)
Third Owner
12 Golf TDI
Original Co-Owner