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 electricmonk
A.k.a.: Jason
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| posted on August 11th, 2005 at 05:32 PM |
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Beetle Brakes
Hi all. While I have owned a 76 Golf before I am totally new to the air cooled variety. I started looking for a nice car to drive to work that would
not cost the earth. I looked at quite a few and then became infatuated with Bugs. Perhaps I wanted something I could actually work on without having a
computer degree. I finally settled on a 73 "L" over a 65, mainly because of the creature comforts allthough I now plan on getting something older to
work on next year. The question I have is: Whats up with VW brakes? I test drove five or six and all had what I would term "hoary" brakes. Foot
nearly to the floor and quite spongy. I would have expected a difference between the disk and drums but all were equally bad. Is this because they are
not power assisted? Oh and I noticed that all the shifters had broken boots and three miles between gears. Is there any way to fix this? I want
something a little tighter. The car I chose is not in the best condition but for the price it was a steal. Besides I know I should be able to do most
if not all the work myself and learn for my next project car. The wife does not like my choice as she wanted me to get a trytop ute but I think I
became infected with Wolfsburg disease. For the fist time in many years I am excited to be driving a car I can work on.:bounce |
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 barls
A.k.a.: Mr indestructible
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| posted on August 11th, 2005 at 05:42 PM |
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welcome to the fold
the brakes can be quite good if they are spongy bleed them, as for the shift distance fit a quick shift which will reduce it to about 2 inches between
gears not 4-6 inches
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VWCOOL
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| posted on August 11th, 2005 at 05:52 PM |
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| Quote: | For the fist
time in many years I am excited to be driving a car I can work on.:bounce
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Ahhh, yes, grasshopper, but are you excited by working on a car you need to drive...?
Brakes; If all is in good condition, the brakes on your Beetle should have a firm pedal and not too much travel - 3 or so inches, which is similar to
anything else. And they should be able to pull the car up quite abruptly. Some of us have raced on std brakes...! Start by checking (pads, shoes,
leaks from wheel cylinder etc) and bleeding everything to ensure there are no air pockets etc
Gears: There is a circular plastic bush just below and behind the gear lever, within the pan's central tube, that holds the gearshift rod (remove
gear lever). Sloppy gear lever usually means this bush is shot.. a new one is about $12 and is a 20-minute... but fiddly... fix. Extra, extra slop
means your gearbox's shift input shaft (under the rear seat) is also worn... but they were never too tight anyway!
Pay your debts, CxxT
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electricmonk
A.k.a.: Jason
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| posted on August 11th, 2005 at 06:11 PM |
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Thanks. I had allready purchased three magazines before I settled on a bug. I think they made up my mind. The smell of grease, petrol and oil came
back to me and I felt sad that I had been away from doing things myself for so long.
I was wondering just how strong the brake hoses were. Should it be something to replace sooner rather than later even if they look good?
Do you know an approximate guess on how much that sort of shifter will cost? I was just going to replace the bushes in the old unit but if there is
something better for a good price I will probably go that way first.
God this car better be OK for the fist few weeks at least lol. I am going to get a VW mechanic to give it a major service then start doing things
myself. This is mainly so they can tell me the things I need to do before I HAVE to do them
Edit: just saw the other post while writing this. I haven't actually picked the car up yet so not had a decent drive. I have had quite a bit of
experience rebuilding Old Holden's and spending WAY too much on engines so I am not shy about doing the work once I get my hands on a factory manual.
LOL I am like a kid with a new toy and the wait till I pick the car up tommorow is killing me |
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barls
A.k.a.: Mr indestructible
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| posted on August 11th, 2005 at 06:45 PM |
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under $20 for the quick shift and it works well
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VWCOOL
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| posted on August 11th, 2005 at 06:52 PM |
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lol... let's get the basics right, okay?
Pay your debts, CxxT
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electricmonk
A.k.a.: Jason
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| posted on August 14th, 2005 at 11:13 PM |
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Well I finally have the car now. I must have looked at too many as this one does not seem to be as bad with the brakes and loose shifter. However the
electrics are wierd. Fuel gage refuses to work and wow that I took out the old stereo wiring the flasher unit buzzes constantly till I start the car
and the gen light flashes with the indicator.  I am realy
looking forward to working on this problem as I love nutting out wiring problems. The car actually handles real nice as well.
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a ploughshare, he'll know he's been hit
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electricmonk
A.k.a.: Jason
Officially Full-On Dubber
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| posted on August 24th, 2005 at 12:53 AM |
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:cry I just took her in for a major service and inspection today. My motor is apparently shot. Compressions between 90 and 105. leaking seals and one
of the spark plugs had been cross threaded. So thay say I have to do the rings and the job will cost over 1200 dollars. Plus all the other thinks like
sized LH rear brake adjuster, faulty fuel gage, shocks and struts a few bushes and I still have to find a good RH front and LH rear guard and running
boards. THEN the micowave packed up, the frige went on the fritz, heater broke, washing machine died, kids are sick, 1500 to 1800 to spend fixing the
wifes cars trans and all this in just over a week. Hmm anyone know of parts available in Adelaide that are cheap? lol time to start crying methinks
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a ploughshare, he'll know he's been hit
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VWCOOL
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| posted on August 24th, 2005 at 08:52 AM |
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Compression.. who cares? As long is it is not blowing smoke... If it runs, it runs... that's one of the beauties of a Beetle! The rest you can
proabably tackle yourself
The last car I bought, the owner said he'd had a quote for a new engine becuase it was 'stuffed'. It was very hard to start, had a leaky exhaust,
was blowing a little blue smoke and there was a red light in the dash that flickered...
I crossed my fingers, put in fresh oil (that was the red light on the dash) puttied the exhaust leak, changed the plugs, adjusted the points and carby
and can now sit on the freeway at 120km/h when the cops aren't looking
And the old owner was told he needed a new engine...nn[ Edited on 23-8-2005 by VWCOOL ]
Pay your debts, CxxT
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tassupervee
A.k.a.: Knob Jockey
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That really hurts doesnt it!
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| posted on August 24th, 2005 at 02:30 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by VWCOOL
For the fist time in many years I am excited to be driving a car I can work on.
Ahhh, yes, grasshopper, but are you excited by working on a car you need to drive...?
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ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:thumb:thumb:thumb:thumb:P:P
nn[ Edited on 24/8/05 by tassupervee ]
Im not a complete idiot, quite a few parts are missing....
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tassupervee
A.k.a.: Knob Jockey
Custom Title Time!
That really hurts doesnt it!
Posts: 1171
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| posted on August 24th, 2005 at 02:43 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by VWCOOL
Compression.. who cares? As long is it is not blowing smoke... If it runs, it runs... that's one of the beauties of a Beetle! The rest you can
proabably tackle yourself
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Precisely. never better said!
When you tested it, it drove alright yer? Thats why you bought it.
What, so now it rooted coz a garage said so? Crap!
When the plug fires out of the cros-threaded hole (and god help the garage if THEY did it and are covering up),, then its time to fix it with a
heli-coil. When the guards drop onto the road, gaffer tape them back on. The rings are shot when the engine refuses to ever go again or lays enough
smoke to conceal the enemy and the oil drains out overnight is the time for "new seals"!
Drive your toy M8,
The brake adjuster is a 15 minute job and some CRC.
L8tr
E
Im not a complete idiot, quite a few parts are missing....
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