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Low brake pedal

Over the past few weeks I noticed that the brake pedal was low on my 1974 Super Beetle so I removed all 4 drums and inspected the shoes. Turns out that the shoe linings on the right rear drum were worn almost to the metal. I installed new Raybestos shoes all around and while one wheel cylinder was shoeless I pushed the brake pedal down. With new shoes I drove the car a few blocks and found that the brakes were barely working and the pedal was all the way to the floor. I had to ask for help in bleeding the brakes and now the pedal is high again. Did I introduce air into the system when I pushed down on the pedal with no shoes connected to a wheel cylinder or was air introduced as the shoes were worn down? Did I damage the master cylinder or the wheel cylinder?

Thanks in advance

Reply to
azazel scratch
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Pushing the pedal with no shoes should have popped the pistons right out of that wheel cyl !

You would have noticed the fluid, so maybe it didn't happen. But if they did pop out, a little air could have gotten into that wheel cyl. It won't migrate anywhere else and bleeding would take care of it.

I'm a trifle anxious about why one wheel had worn shoes. That is a red flag.

If the brake hoses (to each wheel) are original, they are now over 30 years old! As they age, the rubber inside swells up and blocks fluid flow returning to the M/C. That can account for worn linings.

So...if you didn't replace the hoses, you could be in for more trouble.

Speedy Jim

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Reply to
Speedy Jim

And.. Brake fluid should be exchanged every two years due to the Hygroscopic(SP?) nature. This goes for all kinds of brakefluid inkluding 5.0 wich you should not use in a road car. 5.1 on the other hand is fine to use. That leaves you with Dot 3,4,5.1 If you come across Dot2 toss it!! It is so old that merely the shelve life would have introduced water to the fluid. This in fact goes for all plastic containers...So watch the manf date.

J.

Reply to
Berg

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