If my "wheel level" components you mean all that are attatched to the
rear hubs ect I see nothing in the job that a moderately competent "fooler
arounder with Vanagons" could not accomplish on his own. Everything is
pretty much out in the open for you to get at and all parts fit togeather
pretty much like they look like they are supposed to.
   Grab a Bently or a Haynes and go at it. If you have no tools BUY them.
You are going to pay for tools anyway. One way you pay for your own tools,
the other way you pay for your mechanic's tools. Much better to pay for your
own.
   I used to be terrified of the thought of working on my own breaks.
Thoughts of carreening into God knows what as the result of an error on my
part drove me repeatedly to the dealer. One day I had no choice. Costs were
such that I could either fix it myself or walk. That was the day I
discovered that break repairs were one of the simpler jobs to tackle. I
think if you try it you will find it the same.
>
> Dear Readers,
>
> I return to the list again for help. This time its major (as if a
> leaky gas
> tank isn't). I have been told by a local brake specialist that I need to
> have every brake component mounted on the wheels (front and rear)
> replaced.
> Looking at it, I'm afraid he's right. I've been quoted a price of $881.79
> by the place that actually looked at it and $775 by another place that my
> wife said her father had looked into for me. There's a local VW specialist
> that says both those prices are way out of line, but I haven't taken it
> over there yet to let him look at it.
>
> Here's the question for those of you who may have been through this: Is it
> worth the $50 or more it is going to cost me to have the van towed to the
> specialist? Or, does $800 sound about right to replace all wheel-level
> brake components?
>
> Thanks,
> Joe Denison
>