I would check the pads and shoes.  If they were replaced with after market
junk, they will not perform properly.  Especially the rear shoes.  The factory
rear shoes do use a metallic woven liner.  I have not been able to find
anything after market that comes close.  Also, make sure the drums and rotors
are not to thing.  The rotor wear limit is 13mm.  The drum wear limit is
228mm.  They are marked.

Dennis.

-----Original Message-----
From:   Vanagon mailing list  On Behalf Of bachmanb@SMTPGW1.PLK.AF.MIL
Sent:   Tuesday, August 26, 1997 7:04 PM
To:     Vanagon@GERRY.SDSC.EDU
Subject:        Brakes

     Now I've got a question.

     I've noticed a tendency for the '91 to develop what I'll call soft
     brakes after a few moderate-to-heavy applications.  On some occasions,
     I even seem to be hitting the metallic-sounding stop on the brake
     pedal, if you know what I mean.  Pumping kinda helps, but not as much
     as one might expect from experience with other cars.

     I am somewhat suspicious that someone some time may have put DOT3
     brake fluid in instead of DOT 4, so I plan on going to the mess and
     trouble to flush the system.

     Sound like anything that's happened to anyone else?

     Also, I'd kinda like to get that sales pitch from a couple weeks ago
     about master cylinders w/boosters for $100; still available?  Off to
     check the archives!

     -Blaine