The official VW Parts says the spindle diameter changed in 84 model year
production at chassis number E - 023827 so most 84 would have the later
bearing. Only pretty early 84 model year vans would have the old
bearing. The factory built roughly 150,000 T3 vehicles most years.

Not sure why you gave much credit to TK since Mark Ward blamed the
bearings right away. Meanwhile TK had you replacing the master cylinder,
looking for bad hoses, bad bleeders, and said several times that the
bearing were likely not the cause.

Yes, VanCafe rocks, as usual!

Mark D

Eric Wunrow wrote:
> THANK YOU everyone for your help!!!
>
> The problem is fixed, and as I "just knew," yes my brake issue was related to putting in front bearings.
>
> As I kept saying ad nauseum, coincidences are rare in the mechanical world�
>
>
> Here's the short version�
> All Vanagons prior to later 1984 ending with 150001 as their chassis number (findable on the rearward side of the frame wall under the bus and below the passenger seat), which should match the VIN if not chopped, had a smaller front spindle diameter.
>
> In our case, the mechanic used the later-version bearings on our early-1984 bus, meaning there was a huge amount of slop in the front bearings that enabled rotor-centering inconsistencies under braking. Hence, pedal went to floor, then fine, then somewhere in between...
>
>
> Sans repeating the entire saga, and hopefully without irritating our lovely hosts here, here's all the details:
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=667705&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
>
>