replacing brake pipes

[soulstealer]

Just had my new to me 82 Aircooled bus looked over by a local vw mechanic.

Not too bad all in all but one major thing he suggested was replacement of corroded brake pipes. Anyone got any experience of doing this? He hasn't done it on a t25 as usually works on bays and splits. He seems to think petrol tank needs removing and that there is a real risk of the bleed nipples snapping off or rounding due to corrosion. I want to get the pipes replaced but dont want to incur major costs by having to replace calipers etc should the worst happen. Any hints or tips would be a huge help. He's quoted me around £100 shouls everything go to plan which I thought sounded fair but any opinions on that would also be helpful.

Cheers Dan

[Ian Hulley]

If they've not been touched in the past few years it'll NOT go to plan

The junctions will be solid rust, the nipples will snap off and the flexy's will be fecked too. I ended up replacing the whole system ... including the front calipers ... when we first tested our van.

If you don't know what you're doing DON'T DO IT ... pay a professional. It will pay off in the long run, you can't scrimp on safety.Oh and make greasing the replacement pipes and ferrules on the flexys every year part of your service regime.

Where are you ? We may be able to recommend someone we all know and trust not to bend you over, Simon 'Brickwerks' Baxter, Marcus 'Mercdoctor', Steve 'Gasure' Shaw.

** Just re-read your profile ... Marcus and Tracy Mercdoctor are only in Coventry ... just over the road from you .... give him a bell. **

Ian.

[soulstealer]

Thanks Ian,

Not planning on doing it myself but before I got someone else to do it was jsut trying to get an idea of what might be involved. Do you mind me asking how much your full brake overhaul cost? so I can get an idea of how much I might have to fork out.

[Ian Hulley]

Do you mind me asking how much your full brake overhaul cost?

We did it in the workshop at work, kunifer brake pipe is cheap as chips .... probably £20 to do the lot, unions and fittings likewise, the money's in the time it takes to make up the pipes and the cost of replacing anything that breaks ... our late calipers were £45 each exchange, Both nipples were sha&&ed and the little pipe wouldn't undo from the flexy's anyway. Rear cylinders start at £6.50, and the flexys vary ... you could push the boat out and buy the stainless braided ones from Simon 'Brickwerks' Baxter. Gallon of brake fluid ... £15. Front pads ~£15, Rear shoes and fitting kit ~£30.

It all mounts up, I'd speak to Marcus if I were you.

Ian.

[Simon Baxter]

£15 brake pads!

Brakes, buy the best you can afford.
GSF generally do 2 qualities of most stuff, avoid the cheap stuff, it's, er, cheap.

[Ian Hulley]

£15 brake pads!

Brakes, buy the best you can afford.
GSF generally do 2 qualities of most stuff, avoid the cheap stuff, it's, er, cheap.

Simon, I got my pads and shoes from a commercial supplier (Linings & Hoses) price was 'to me' ... a buyer ... and 4 years ago as I stated. Although I did the pads again last year ... can't remember or find the receipt for them.

Ian.

[Tex Ritter]

Renew all bits and pieces without question.

It's worth the effort and expense, and it will probably outlast the van.

I always try to use mintex pads/shoes.

TR

[nesty]

Just putting my 2p in.

I'd say yes defo pay someone to do it. I recently did my brake on my Aircooled and by the end I was almost in tears. A union pipe will always bound to snap off and bolts bound to be siezed on.

At first a garage quoted me 3/4 hours labour, if I got the parts from GSF. But know I thought oh do it myself, 5 days later I was still cursing and spent my hoilday week off work just getting covered in brake fuild. I felt it was just not worth it & wished I took it to the garage.