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Brakes! Question about pedal feel.

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vvwbeetle Officially Full-On Dubber

234 posts · joined Apr 2011 ·

#904291
Hi,

Could anyone explain this?

Today it seemed every time I wanted to use the brakes I had to pump the pedal to get it to have a better feel to it.

Brake fluid is full.

What should I be checking?

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#904297
sounds like u have air in the brake lines
give it a bleed and check it out
you could have some weepy wheel cyclinders giving you some grief
fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse

Fantasy http://seventhchronicle.com

Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity

Barrels www.barrelman.com.au

VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
allcooled.com.au

Lucky Phil Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Aug 2010 ·

#904310
If the master cylinder rear seal is shot it can suck air in.
You can bleed it till the cows come home and it won't come good.
You will need a new master cylinder in this case.

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#904336
^ maybe true but.. u need to start somewhere 🤪
for me a series of elimination starting with the basics before the BIG one I would of thought but hey go straight for the jugular if you will
give a few of these things a look
surely one of them will need attention if your problem persists
good luck n let us know how you go
fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse

Fantasy http://seventhchronicle.com

Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity

Barrels www.barrelman.com.au

VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
allcooled.com.au

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#904337
Adjust your rear shoes.............then your handbrake will work better and your front pads will stop smoking after heavy braking !


beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#904366
Check your front wheel bearings - a loose bearing will let the wheel wobble slightly and push the pads back into the calipers - hence the pumping. Happened to me a while back.
From your ole' mate Jeff

vvwbeetle Officially Full-On Dubber

234 posts · joined Apr 2011 ·

#904376
Thanks H I'll keep you updated!

Craig thanks for the heads up! I'll try to figure out when I can come by.

Thanks Jeff wheel seems ok.

Uber Kafer Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#904380
many problems are found with your eyes. Have a look for brake fluid leaks.

Any dark patches around the bottom of the brake backing plates, or anywhere on the brake lines, joins, flexible hoses, or around and below the master cylinder.
If its a leaking wheel cylinder in one of the drum brakes you might catch it before it contaminates the brake shoe. Cos once that happens they need to be replaced, as a pair of shoes. And that will probably mean the drum will need to be skimmed to suit as well.

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#904387
Hi

You can always tell if your rear brakes need adjusting when the pedal feels better after the handbrake is pulled up.

Steve

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#904459
vvwbeetle wrote:Hi,

Could anyone explain this?

Today it seemed every time I wanted to use the brakes I had to pump the pedal to get it to have a better feel to it.

Brake fluid is full.

What should I be checking?
Firstly has this just happened?

no work has been done on the brakes?

as it sounds like You have air in the brake system...

Air is compressible whereas brake fluid isn't...

does the pedal move when You pull the hand brake on?

Do You have a single brake system or a dual system ?
[dual lines and dual master cylinder]
You can tell by the master cylinder... if it has two pipes/hoses coming out of it its a dual system...

but as said, a leak is usually easy to see as there will be brake fluid where its leaking... check all wheels and the back of the brake drums etc..

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#904466
Craig Torrens wrote:Adjust your rear shoes.............then your handbrake will work better and your front pads will stop smoking after heavy braking !
+1 if they are too far from the drum surface it will make a low pedal that needs pumping. If its low and needs pumping but at the same time feeds firm then its your rear shoes.

If it needs pumping and feels soft and spongy it needs bleeding or a remote chance you have maladjusted shoes with ballooning hoses at the same time but thats unlikely.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

vvwbeetle Officially Full-On Dubber

234 posts · joined Apr 2011 ·

#904557
I did notice that it only took a quick pump and it felt better.

If I pulled the hand brake on slightly it had a better feel.

They don't feel like they have a fade just a long pedal initially then better once I do that quick pump.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#904569
vvwbeetle wrote:I did notice that it only took a quick pump and it felt better.

If I pulled the hand brake on slightly it had a better feel.

They don't feel like they have a fade just a long pedal initially then better once I do that quick pump.
sounds like Your rear drums need adjusting up..
Your hand brake will work better too..

Not sure if it will fix the pumping the brakes...

I just fitted new brake pads to Mine and they do feel better
although the old ones still had a bit of brake material on them
but the new ones are very thick compared to them..
so, the pedal doesn't have to go as far..

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#904844
68AutoBug wrote:
vvwbeetle wrote:I did notice that it only took a quick pump and it felt better.

If I pulled the hand brake on slightly it had a better feel.

They don't feel like they have a fade just a long pedal initially then better once I do that quick pump.
sounds like Your rear drums need adjusting up..
Your hand brake will work better too..

Not sure if it will fix the pumping the brakes...

I just fitted new brake pads to Mine and they do feel better
although the old ones still had a bit of brake material on them
but the new ones are very thick compared to them..
so, the pedal doesn't have to go as far..

LEE
calipers auto adjust as the pad wears so your better feel is due to new pad material and less heat build up due to more material to diffuse the heat thro 😉
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

vvwbeetle Officially Full-On Dubber

234 posts · joined Apr 2011 ·

#914523
Just a follow up!
Rear brakes adjusted and feeling much better now!

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#915700
Craig Torrens wrote:Adjust your rear shoes.............then your handbrake will work better and your front pads will stop smoking after heavy braking !

haha I am shocked how long it took before someone mention this 😂

always check basics first especially when a simple common little issue like this is most common and easiest to fix.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#915711
vlad01 wrote:
Craig Torrens wrote:Adjust your rear shoes.............then your handbrake will work better and your front pads will stop smoking after heavy braking !

haha I am shocked how long it took before someone mention this 😂

always check basics first especially when a simple common little issue like this is most common and easiest to fix.
Shocked at how long it took? it was answered the day the thread was made....
BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#915762
as in the number of posts, 4 of them ! 🤪

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE