If your pads are worn, change them.  Got to hit the two pins out and pull
them out.  Some push on the caliper would give you enough space to put the
new ones in.

Your pumping can mean, you are in need of a master cylinder.  Under and
behind the instruments.
Zoltan

-----Original Message-----
From: Vincent Dow
Sent: Sunday, July 05, 2015 5:17 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: anybody done the brakes on 1982 gas westfalia?

Howdy,
Had the braking power seriously diminish on my 82 westy. What a bummer, we
were headed to San Luis Obisbo county, to bring the dog up to a beach (and
ourselves)

Had to turn back to L.A. at Thousand Oaks.

The brake pedal felt tall in the morning when we started out. 50 miles into
the drive, I felt the pedal bottoming. A couple pumps with my foot would do
the job, but I knew I was losing pressure.

I got the wheel off, and am looking at the caliper. The flexible brake line
is attached to a bracket, that's under huge nut for the main big suspension
piece whose name alludes me. The one that's under spring tension.

I'm thinking I have to open up the brake line and drain before I can even
get the pads out. Haven't come across a caliper like this before. Don't
like it.

I'm wondering if I shouldn't rebuild calipers now. I'm seeing lots of pics
of nasty old ones. Brakes are important. Does this ring true to experienced
owners? Bit the bullet and rebuild the caliper? Or is that going overboard?