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1500 beetle front disc brakes catching
rob53 - January 20th, 2007 at 10:50 AM

Hi all,
My 1970 1500 beetle has a bit of an issue with the front disc brakes.

They seem to just catching the disc when driving, when the brakes are not applied, so the result is that you can hear the high pitched noise when driving around 40-60 kmph (25-38mph).

Are there any possible adjustments that can be made.
I have the newer mexican callipers installed, (with 2 or 3 pins?).

The brake peddle does not shudder when I brake, so I don't think the disc's are warped.

And I don't think the callipers are seized because they are about 2 years old. Also I have new brake lines installed on the front. (been through 2 seized callipers before)

aussiebaja - January 20th, 2007 at 01:24 PM

some cars have little scrapers on the pad thar start to squeal when the pads are low and need replacing,but ide say that would make a noise all the time

pod - January 20th, 2007 at 01:32 PM

check your wheel bearings as well,might need a bit of grease or a little adjustment?

lohoon - January 20th, 2007 at 02:13 PM

I have had this happen too! It used to happen when the car was parked in the sun all day.I replaced the calipers.Didn't do it for a few days and then the pads would start to drag again.Some times you could feel the pedal was harder than usual.I then replaced the brake lines.Stopped for another coupla days and then returned.I pulled the master clynder to see if any blockages or crap was inside.I swapped it for a recoed one and problem gone....for now anyway.
Hope this is some help.

ExQuokka - January 21st, 2007 at 08:05 AM

Yes, the master cylinder can cause such problems - but first, are the brake pads brand new? Do they have a chamfer on the lead edge? The pads may be baulking a little on the discs, due to either the pads, or the calipers not being mounted solidly enough - make sure everything is torqued to spec

rob53 - January 21st, 2007 at 02:40 PM

The brake pads are about 2 years old, as they got replaced at the same time when the new callipers were installed.
The bearings are ok, and were replaced about 3 years back.
I think the everything has been installed to spec with regards to the pads and the callipers.

If the front end is jacked up, then wheels just catch at one point when turning by hand.

vw54 - January 22nd, 2007 at 06:04 AM

replace the flexiable rubber hoses

rob53 - January 22nd, 2007 at 12:28 PM

I will check out the rubber hoses, but I think they should be ok since they were replaced about 2 years ago also.

greedy53 - January 22nd, 2007 at 07:48 PM

sounds like your master cylender is on the way out they won't return or they o it slowley thus making the pads drag
get a mate to watch while you push the pedal see if it coming back all the way

[ Edited on 22-1-2007 by greedy53 ]

vw54 - January 22nd, 2007 at 07:49 PM

yep could b the master as well

MickH - January 22nd, 2007 at 07:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rob53..........
If the front end is jacked up, then wheels just catch at one point when turning by hand.


That would sugggest the discs are warped.Get them machined or replaced.

rob53 - January 23rd, 2007 at 09:02 AM

The Discs are pretty shiny so I suppose I should get them machined.
How much roughly are new or used master cylinders?

[ Edited on 22-1-2007 by rob53 ]