Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 14:25:00 -0500
Reply-To: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Subject: Re: flushing braking system
Brake fluid is highly hygroscopic (attracts and carries moisture from the
air). Brake components are chiefly ferrous metals. What happens when
ferrous metals and H20 get together? That's right, RUST. Further, having
water in your brake fluid can lower the boiling point of your brake fluid,
and cause your brakes to fail during long, hard applications (going down a
mountain).
Flushing/swapping your brake system flushes out the normal wear particles
and the moisture that accumulates in your brake fluid. If you want to be
anal retentive (I do) flush them once a year. It takes about 15 minutes and
costs <$10. I use a whole quart to flush ALL the crap out.
Your 'soft pedal' failure *could* be fixed by flushing (it has done it once
for me). For me, it was (apparently) particulate trash in the master
cylinder; made the seals fail to seal completely. Can't hurt to try. Let us
know what you find.
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Corporate Communications Counselors
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree
"I, the undersigned, shall forfeit all rights, privileges, and licenses
herein and herein contained, et cetera, et cetera . . . fax mentis
incendium gloria culpum, et cetera, et cetera . . . memo bis punitor
delicatum!" It's all there, black and white, clear as crystal! -Wonka
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Harrnacker [SMTP:vanagon@IFREEDOM.COM]
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2000 1:00 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: flushing braking system
Everyone -
I seem to remember something about needing to flush the braking systems on
our Vanagons roughly every two years. What is this supposed to do for you?
What happens if you don't do it?
My 89 Vanagon is currently having a problem where the pedal is soft
initially, but pumping it brings the pressure back up. I am wondering if I
should flush all the lines when I get this problem fixed.
Anyone want to hazard a guess as to my immediate problem? My money is on
the booster.
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