Hello David
  Check the adjusters in rear brakes.  Mine failed to work due to brake
dust build-up.  This causes the shoes to be too far from the drum it
makes the brakes feel mushy as the shoes move to contact the drum.  I
cleaned up the adjusters and adjusted the brakes and my pedal firmed up
alot.  The rear brakes on the vanagons don't seem to be the best design.
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Fri, 29 May 1998 17:52:22 -0700
> From:    David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
> Subject: Why do I have to pump my brakes?
>
> Lately my 1988 Double Cab requires me to pump my brake pedal once so it
> will grab a little better.  If I push the pedal down on the first pump it
> will go 2/3 of the way down and it will softly stop the truck.  If I pump
> it again it will only go 1/2 of the way down and I can stop much better.
> It is a bad master cylinder, bad rear brakes or what?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>

--
Colin Moran
Beebe Ar.
'86 Syncro GL
"The Bronze Brick"
200,000 and still going