On Apr 11, 10:34=A0am, N8N <njna...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Apr 11, 3:56=A0am, "Neil" <nos...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > <benteac...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>
>
>news:76c90e50-bc90-411c-a628-233811c87767@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> > > On Apr 5, 11:17 am, "Neil" <nos...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> > >>Would just
> > >> cleaning the shoes be enough?
>
> > >> Thanks!
>
> > > No.
> > > Neither shop sounds reputable at all.
> > > If there is *any* fluid on the shoes, replace them.
>
> > Here's part three. My son picked up his car after having the wheel
cylin=
der
> > replaced. They said the shoes didn't need replacing; they just cleaned
t=
hem.
> > However, the original item -- that his parking brake didn't work,
which =
the
> > shop said was because there was brake fluid on the rear shoes, still
isn=
't
> > resolved! He's bringing it back into the shop tomorrow.
>
> > When he had gone in there, the guy checked the parking brake, and told
h=
im
> > that it was adjusted correctly (3-4 clicks). However, the brake still
is=
n't
> > holding the car. With the brake fluid out of the drum and the shoes
clea=
ned,
> > it should worked.
>
> > Something about this shop doesn't smell right.
>
> Do you feel comfortable pulling a rear wheel yourself? =A0I'd be curious
> to see what you find when you finally get in there. =A0Maybe the cables
> are binding up? =A0I know that I did have to replace the cables on my
> GTI.
>
> nate
More thoughts...
if this were *my* car I'd want to find out if the parking brake issue
is symptomatic of a problem with the service brakes or is separate.
Can you simply jack the whole rear of the car up, place it on stands,
and see if the service brakes are working? (spin the rear wheels,
have a helper apply the brake pedal, see if they stop well.) If the
service brakes are not working either, you either need to replace the
shoes or there is some kind of mechanical problem with the brakes. If
they *ARE* working, you probably need new parking brake cables.
Also VW's of "a certain age" (not sure if yours falls in this
category) had a load sensitive prop valve mounted near the "beam" of
the rear axle. If this seizes up, and it sounds like your son's car
was neglected long enough that this might be a possibility, you'll
have full pressure to the rear brakes which can result in premature
rear lockup. I'd like to crawl under there and see if the mechanical
linkage from the prop valve to the axle beam is free or if it is
seized. If it is seized, you need to replace the prop valve. That
may not be a DIY job - it wasn't on my '89 GTI. Theoretically it is,
but I couldn't get the brake lines loose from it without using a
torch, and that's far easier and safer in a proper shop with a lift
and fire extinguishers handy etc.
nate
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