Brakes too soft?

Not pads, but "shoes". The new shoes won't conform to the actual drum diameter until they have worn in for maybe a month or so. During that time, the shoes will flex a bit and will only be making contact over a fraction of their length.

As they wear in, the pedal may go further down; the shoes need frequent adjusting until they wear in, then the pedal should be firm.

It's *possible* that there is air in the lines and need to be bled, but that's not the usual cause.

Speedy Jim

Oops, yes ofcourse, shoes. I have pads on the brain 'cause lately I've been contemplating the disk brake conversion option. Thanks.

If you're contemplating disc brakes, go for it. It's a little expensive but it's definately worth it. And, of course, you only need to adjust the rear brakes if you put discs on the front. I put front discs on my '73 over a year ago, and they have been great. Two warnings though:

Do not use the pads that come with the dsic brake kit; you need to find some good ones with anti-squeal backing on them. Goop, little shims, rubber shims, whatever....none of that stuff works. You need pads with real anti-squeal materail on the backing...it looks like the friction material.

You need to keep your front wheel bearings adujusted much more accurately, or the brakes will squeal around turns and the caliper may even contact the rotor....bad news.

Other than that, the kits from AC.net are very good. Check 'em out!

~Anthony

Debra, was the brake shop familiar with VW's? I know I always have to adjust the brakes after I put on new shoes. If they aren't adjusted, the wheel cyclinders may have to expand a long way to get the shoes on the drum.

Your free play does seem a little excessive to me. My $.02 anyway.

No, I don't think any aircooleds had them.

Speedy Jim

Sounds about right.

----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney snipped-for-privacy@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711 USA

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The shop is(are?) suspension specialists, which doesn't make them VW specialists, I know. But after the VW dealer looked at me like I just landed my bug from another planet, I thought I'd give this shop a try. I pressed them on whether they were familiar with ACVWs, and one of the old timers assured me that he'd worked on lots of bugs. Anyway, I'll let ya know what I figure out. Thanks all.

Volkswagen had them on some (later) super beetles. Could be that only certain markets had them.

See this drawing, the bottom assembly is a self adjusting one:

Greetings, Gerrelt.