What part am I looking for?!

Ollie Yeah Buddy

840 posts · joined Oct 2009 · 10 Mar 2011, 1:10 pm

#830165

Hey guys, quick question that I was hoping someone could help me out with.

I've got a 1976 bug with front discs and rear drums - recently my brakes have been squishy and unresponsive. Took them to the mechanic and get them bled, adjusted and un-siezed.

They were working fine up until the other day when they became unresponsive again - I have to double pump them for them to work.

When I took it back to the mechanic he was describing a piece for the drums I need to find for it to be a quick job.
Something to stop the adjusters from slipping?
He mentioned he could fashion one himself, but it would be more man hours (and I'm a struggling student).

Does anyone know what part this is that I need?
Hope someone can help!

Cheers,
Ollie

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- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 10 Mar 2011, 1:16 pm

#830166

its a spring steel tab that locks in the star pattern on each of the adjusters if he has diagnosed it correctly

They are part of the whole backing plate and yes they do break off

Ollie Yeah Buddy

840 posts · joined Oct 2009 · 10 Mar 2011, 1:24 pm

#830167

Thanks Hellbug
Can you buy these seperately NOS or should I dig around on the forums to find one?

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- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 10 Mar 2011, 1:40 pm

#830169

plenty of my cars missing that tab,
I never had a problem.🤪

😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

Ollie Yeah Buddy

840 posts · joined Oct 2009 · 10 Mar 2011, 2:12 pm

#830170

Really Ian? Strange, he mentioned he could adjust them back again, but it would continue to slip in the future?

Follow the Photo Fun:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=95238

- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 10 Mar 2011, 3:18 pm

#830176

some slip out of adjustment when the piece is missing, some dont depending how tight they are in the block

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 10 Mar 2011, 6:28 pm

#830207

If your brakes need adjust the hand brake will pull up higher also,
its a piece off to put a screwdriver in the hole in the back of the drum and adjust brakes.😊

😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Mar 2011, 10:13 pm

#830276

OMClarke wrote:Hey guys, quick question that I was hoping someone could help me out with.

I've got a 1976 bug with front discs and rear drums - recently my brakes have been squishy and unresponsive. Took them to the mechanic and get them bled, adjusted and un-siezed.

They were working fine up until the other day when they became unresponsive again - I have to double pump them for them to work.

Something to stop the adjusters from slipping?

Does anyone know what part this is that I need?
Hope someone can help!

Cheers,
Ollie

HI Ollie
I have never seen those bits break off... but they shouldn't move anyway , otherwise those clips would be a LOT stronger
I wouldn't worry about it...

but if You want to replace them I think You need to replace the complete adjuster as those spring tabs are on the adjuster ..
not sure how the clips are mounted on the adjuster block - its more likely that the adjuster seize up rather than move...
I'll try to send you a pic of the part..
its just a rectangular piece of steel with holes in either end with threads for the brake lining holders to screw in and out....
You should be able to get used ones anywhere... and cheap.

hardest part is taking the axle nut off at 217ft lbs from memory and that IS very tight....

Now I'm thinking.. the springs have a lot of tension on those brake linings etc.... not sure the adjusters would move...

easiest way would be to adjust the brakes again... If they need adjusting again..??? and put a couple of drops of loctite on the threads... then they won't move until You want them to move...

cheers

LEE

♥

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

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 10 Mar 2011, 10:58 pm

#830281

68AutoBug wrote:
HI Ollie
I have never seen those bits break off... but they shouldn't move anyway , otherwise those clips would be a LOT stronger

they WILL move if they are greased and cleaned properly as indicated by ollie. the clips ARE strong enough acting like a rachet almost. enough tension to hold the adjustment, but also soft enough to ALLOW adjustment in the first place 😠

68AutoBug wrote:I wouldn't worry about it...

but if You want to replace them I think You need to replace the complete adjuster as those spring tabs are on the adjuster ..

VW factory put them there because they have a purpose to serve.....the tab that holds the adjuster IS NOT part of the adjuster......its attached to the BACKING plate!

68AutoBug wrote:not sure how the clips are mounted on the adjuster block - its more likely that the adjuster seize up rather than move.....

not likely to be siezed if he has just had them serviced at the mechanics

68AutoBug wrote:I'll try to send you a pic of the part..
its just a rectangular piece of steel with holes in either end with threads for the brake lining holders to screw in and out....
You should be able to get used ones anywhere... and cheap.

......the block is NOT THREADED at all.......the cups that insert into them are and this is where the adjustment is gained via the adjustment screw

cheers

LEE .[/quote]

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Mar 2011, 11:17 pm

#830283

hellbugged wrote:VW factory put them there because they have a purpose to serve.....the tab that holds the adjuster IS NOT part of the adjuster......its attached to the BACKING plate!

68AutoBug wrote:not sure how the clips are mounted on the adjuster block - its more likely that the adjuster seize up rather than move.....
not likely to be siezed if he has just had them serviced at the mechanics

68AutoBug wrote:I'll try to send you a pic of the part..
its just a rectangular piece of steel with holes in either end with threads for the brake lining holders to screw in and out....
You should be able to get used ones anywhere... and cheap.
......the block is NOT THREADED at all.......the cups that insert into them are and this is where the adjustment is gained via the adjustment screw

cheers

LEE .

[/quote]

Yes,
I realised that the block just has two holes and no thread as the adjuster nuts have the thread.. otherwise it wouldn't work... I forgot to change my wording... but

I didn't know that the locking tabs are on the backing plate...

I don't know if new locking plates are available or just use good used ones...

I always used Never seize in My VW adjusters as My first beetle [59] had seized adjusters...
still it wasn't impossible to adjust them with a bit of wire from memory

cheers

LEE

Ollie
shame you aren't in Scone... Lee

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

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 11 Mar 2011, 7:55 am

#830300

The clip is spot welded to the anchor block. Probably able to drill and tap tiny metal thread into the block to retain a new spring clip but no idea if they are available. Many cars have these broken and only ever a few seem to have the problem of the brake adjusters backing off. Do you drive on extremely rough or dirt roads as it's that type of vibration at the wheel that can shake the adjusters loose. Are you sure the mechanic adjusted things properly in the first place??? Seems it backed off quickly IMO.

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

oldtub356 Seriously Crusin Dubber

139 posts · joined Dec 2009 · 11 Mar 2011, 11:26 am

#830314

Try here:
http://www.nlaparts.com/store/rear-brake-adjuster-spring-p-2571.html

Usually fitted with 3mm CheeseHeadScrews but StainlessPopRivets would be just as viable.

Would need to drill the Block to accept the screws/rivets.

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Mar 2011, 9:01 pm

#830368

Hi

You can tell if your rear brakes need adjusting if the pedal feels good with the handbrake on and sloppy with the handbrake off.

Many mechanics fail to backoff the handbrake before adjusting the rear brakes, this only needs to be done when new linings have been fitted or you suspect a dodgy mechanic has tightened up the cables without 1st adjusting the rear brake shoes.

Steve