Help 84 Vanagon brake problem
The next installment
 

Well,
It�s been awhile since I got back about my �84 Vanagon brake problems. (pedal pushed 
hard goes to the bottom without stopping well) But there have been some major 
changes happening.  Not only has work been very hectic and not allowed time to work 
on the van, but I now have an interesting story to tell.  Let me spin it for you�.
 
We were traveling down the 405 freeway here in LA when a loud bang came from the 
back of the van.
While we wondered what the hell was that? another car came up along side and said we 
were spewing fluid so we pulled over to check and found coolant coming out from 
under the motor. Not wanting to work on the freeway we limped to the nearest off ramp 
and popped open the engine compartment.
A quick examination revealed nothing major looking, no burst hoses or major pieces 
missing.
We poured water in the fill bottle and started the motor. Soon the water was pouring 
out of a small hole on the right rear cylinder. Not sure at the time what it was I thought 
maybe a freeze plug of some sort? Well
lets plug it and see if we can get to the nearest VW shop. Taking out a piece of 
mahogany I had aboard I whittled a wood plug , cut it to an appropriate size and tapped 
it in to the hole with a hammer.
A little more water and we were off to the shop.
Upon arrival at the VW shop I told the owner of the problem and asked if there were 
any freeze plugs on
the waterboxer motor to which he replied �No� why don�t you show me on this motor 
in the back where
it�s leaking from. One look at the motor and I clearly knew�the cylinder head nut and 
stud had blown out!
The dreaded electrolysis  had struck again!  I had never heard of this symptom before 
(usually leaking heads) but the stud had disintegrated and blown out from the pressure in 
the cooling system. My motor had reportedly had the heads replaced before but the 
previous owner didn�t know when it had been. 170,000miles are currently on the 
speedo without a rebuild and the last time I checked the compression it was low in two 
cylinders. It was all stacking up to be a very expensive week. After talking prices and 
parts we left it to be fixed.
Rebuilt engine, all labor, new clutch, rebuilt rear axle assemblies, hoses, a few broken 
parts and 8 cylinder studs later (and $3200) the Westy is back on the road and 
humming. And oh yeah, they couldn�t figure out my brake problem either! (weak brakes 
when pushed hard).  After getting the van back I decided I�m going to fix these damn 
brakes before they kill me. I went to the nearest pick your part junk yard and removed 
from an 84 Wolfsberg the brake booster and pedal assembly and brake regulator (and a 
strait as an arrow rear bumper and rubber strip) for about 78 bucks!,
Thanks to all who wrote in about my problem with suggestions, Michael Radtke, Ken 
Wilfy, John
Lauterbach, Robert Keezer and others, I hope to let you all know some good news 
soon.
 

P.S.  I�ve now installed the vacuum booster and brake regulator with no difference in 
the feel at all and pumped at least a gallon of DOT 4 fluid through the lines. One thing I 
have noticed  that the brakes seem to work better if I increase the engine RPM (at a 
stop one foot on gas one on brake), it takes more pressure to bottom them out
I have to believe more people have had similar experiences with this. A vacuum leak 
seems like a possibility still.  Oh Well!
 
Victor Valenti
84 Westy
�The Baked Potato�
 

 

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