Thanks for those links Dennis. Did not know of such tools!

With the new FTE master cylinder installed, the pedal is now
consistently higher (normal).
And with the old master cylinder, if I pushed hard enough, the pedal
stopped up against something. Now it doesn't seem to do so.

New Gowesty shoes and possibly McMaster shims notwithstanding (they're in a box
in my garage. Current shoes are ok), I think these brakes are as good as they're
gonna get. I will install the new shoes and shims soon.
Got motor mounts to take care of on my '88

Neil.

On 7/22/15, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Check out the economy brake pressure gauge set.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/SSBC-A1704-Brake-Pressure-Gauge/dp/B003VYVFSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437622322&sr=8-1&keywords=brake+pressure+gauges
>
> There also better ones available.
>
> Also check out the brake pad pressure gauges.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Products-America-7884-Pressure/dp/B000850MZK/ref=pd_sim_263_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0306XVBJP6RM8Q2DA39F
>
> Quit guessing. You can’t fix what you can't see or measure.
>
> Even with ideal pedal feel the 81 won’t stop as well as the 88 without
> upgrading the front brakes to match.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Neil N
> Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 2:45 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: FTE Brake Master Cylinder: Failing Seal? PICS
>
> Will do.
> My first impression with the new MC installed is that the pedal doesn't feel
> like it's slowly sinking but then I'd expect that.
> I bled the system with my pressure bleeder. The first few stops at lower
> speeds felt like the brakes were less effective.
> They got better as I used them. They were like this before.
> As Dennis Haynes mentioned, the brake equalizer may be at fault.
> My other thought is that maybe using a pressure bleeder isn't getting all
> the air out. Or, the rebuilt calipers are just crap.

-- 
Neil n

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