Tom-

Here are the general "to-do's" in a GOOD brake job:

Buy OEM-VW pads and hardware
Have the rotors/drums turned, or replaced if too thin
Clean and re-pack the bearings
Clean everything spotless with Brak-clean or similar
Use anti-squeal compound (or shims) on the back of the pads
Evacuate all of the brake fluid, flush, and replace with proper grade
Follow the directions in the manual

G. Matthew Bulley
Director
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Coddington [SMTP:coddington@PACIFIC.NET]
Sent:   Wednesday, October 13, 1999 10:24 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: Why do my brakes squeak?

Hi Eric,
   For those of us who will do our own brake replacement; are you meaning to
use the more expensive "metalic" pads? And what are the cut corners you
mentioned? Maybe this could be a quick discussion of doing the brakes
"right".
Thanks, Tom in No. Calif.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of EMZ
> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 1999 4:19 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Why do my brakes squeak?
>
>
> Your brake squeak because the preson who did the pad replacement last,
> did not take reasonable precausions to prevent this problem. FIND A
> NEW  MECHANIC! This is a very common problem with disc brakes and every
> mechanic in the last 10 years, knows about it. Vanagon brakes, are NOT
> exceptionally known for this problem like other vehicles, so it is
> clear that, ether the pads are junk, or the mechanic cut corners.
>
>             Eric                   86-VW4x4
>             vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
>             Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler
>
>
> On Tue, 12 Oct 1999, Suzanne Hackett wrote:
>
> > Why do the brakes on my 1990 Vanagon Carat squeak so horribly, even
> > after I've just had them redone?  They sound like alternately like
> > wheezing old men and shrieking squirrels, and then sometimes they are
> > quiet.
> >
> > I hate these brakes, and that's the only thing I hate about my otherwise
> > beloved "Geordi" (as in La Forge).
> >
> > I live in L.A....could that be it?
> >
> > Seriously, I'm clueless about this one.
> >
> > Suzanne
> >
>