Scott,
Yeah, sounds like it's more than calipers.
I intend to replace the calipers and the flexible lines.
I've been taking the brakes for granted on *Modesto* for years. There were
so many other things wrong! The brakes were like a loyal soldier.

My buddy Nick is planning to drive down from the Bay Area and help me get
this sorted out. He's got a lot more experience than me. He also hopes to
borrow my van for awhile.

I'm going to run down Dennis Haynes' brake diagnostic list/memo starting
tomorrow, when I get L.A. Housing dept off my back. D.H.'s breakdown is
awesome. Exactly what i needed. I didn't have a starting point to figure
this out. I went right away to the pads, as that's the only thing I've ever
had go wrong.

You're all very helpful. It's appreciated big time. I feel like I'm in a
bit of a hole (not just with the van.) I gotta stay positive and figure
this stuff out one piece at a time. Brakes, and then shift linkage, and
then crapped out Kennedy muffler, and then CEL. Then off to the smog
shop....

On Mon, Jul 6, 2015 at 6:42 PM, SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott ) <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

>  the pistons tend to get stuck ( siezed even ) in those early calipers...
> in my experience especially the outer piston.
>
> just invest in 2 rebuilt front calipers.
>
> however...sounds like you have more than just a front brake caliper
> problem.
>
> On 7/5/2015 2:17 PM, Vincent Dow wrote:
>
> 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?
>
>
>
>