Brakes

[Realize]

Evening my trusty team

I had a scary moment coming up to a roundabout the other day when I pressed the brake pedal I slowed down a little but the pedal hit the metal and I kept going luckily nothing coming.
I found that if I drove with the handbrake pulled up halfway my brakes were fine.

So obviously in desperate need of a service.
I Changed pads and shoes today and handbrake is coming on after 1 or 2 clicks - fine - but still getting spongy pedal and still the pedal is touching the metal.

I think I know the answer is they need bleeding, just wanted any other ideas of what it might be as before I changed the pads and shoes it was ok with handbrake half on.

Cheers Jay Aircooled T25 1981

[VWCamperfan]

What level is your brake fluid in the resourvoir? If low then you need to check for leaks at brake calipers and cylinders before bleeding. If your fluid level is ok then bleed the fluid and check for binding brakes whick could have remained slightly on when driving and overheated the fluid causing vapour lock which leads to brake failure.

[Realize]

Hi

Fluid level is good, will bleed them tomorrow and see how it goes, is there any particular order my vehicle is LHD.

Jay

[VWCamperfan]

If yours is LHD then you will have to bleed in this order...
Left-Rear
Right-Rear
Left-Front
Right-Front

Hope this helps!

[Realize]

Cheers Mark

Appreciate your help, is there room around your cosy camp fire avatar for a small pixel like me that's a really nice graphic.

Jay

[VWCamperfan]

Always room my friend... Always room!

[Plasticman]

We just slacked all 4 nipples atatched tubes into jars added fluid, sat back for a natter and 1/2 hour later fluid flushed through, nipples locked up and pedal 100% (this was with all new pipework/flexis..
lazy but works
mike

[HarryMann]

I slowed down a little but the pedal hit the metal and I kept going luckily nothing coming.

Well, next time that happens, pump the pedal again and you have brakes and save a serious accident... it's a natural response? Let that pedal back up and pump immediately.

Like as not, air has got into the system when changing the rear shoes. Presume the fluid level was still max after the incident?

Rear brakes often need a complete service, drums, shoes and possibly wheel cylinders, a lot of cleaning and careful adjustment. They aren't the most powerful rears in the world, so really need to be tip top condition for anything like a 'book' stopping distance.. they make quite a difference when renewed and bedded in properly.

How did you adjust up the adjuster after fitting new shoes. Here's a tool that allows you adjust with drums in situ..

Handbrake is not so much when it comes on but how many total clicks, so say 4 is excellent (as long as free running when off), 5 or 6 normal. they don't always hold well, particularly heavy campers, don't trust it on slopes without putting in gear too.

If the rears or a good bleeding out aren't the problem then you must identify the problem elsewhere, possibly master cylinder - these are your Brakes

[SyncroSam]

Slacken the handbrake cable right off. and adjust up the rear shoes. Readjust the handbrake cable and see what they are like then.