GoBigEmma Pan-American Roadtrip log

[Abscate]

Shrimp brake shies
Shrimp brake pads
Shrimp wheel cylinders
Shrimp brake hose...


I think that's it....
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.ssS!

[Hikelite]

What an awesome trip!

Thanks for sharing. My wife and I are planning a similar adventure for the end of next year. I'll be following along for sure.
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~Kevin

My 1968 Campmobile

[babysnakes]

http://ri.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEVr9FvXFXMccA8y...0kBfbCc_4-

[GoBigEmma]

Hey folks,

thanks for your help and concern! We got our rear brake parts ordered today, they should be here tomorrow. We got a set of new shoes (yap, for both wheels. We'll think about bringing spares along, but they are kind of big and bulky..), new drums (I guess we could have gotten ours machined.. I kind of didn't think of that in time I must admit. Mh..), and new cylinders.

Now for the front brakes: We just took off the passenger side today, but let's assume the other side's status is comparable. The pads seem in OK condition to me. They are not totally smooth, but not falling apart either. A few crumbs are missing around the edges. What do you think? I don't have good ones to compare with..

[Tcash]

[aerosurfer]

O'rielly auto parts has rebuilt calipers at a reasonable price. Its not too big of a job to swap out the calipers and rebleed. While you would have the calipers off, it may be time to just do all the rubber brake lines at each corner.
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Rebuild your own FI Harness..My Harness

77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!

72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone)

[richparker]

^Nice thought. But, do you really want to be going to South America with O'rielly calipers? I'm finding it hard to believe the brake system wasn't gone through before hitting the road. Front pads look ok but the rears are toast, How? Were they 20 years old? super cheap? Adjusted wrong? Used ebrake to slow down during the tow (@85)?

There's nothing wrong with scuffing up the brake surface of the drum with some sand paper before reinstall. This would be a good time to inspect and lube the ebrake cable/cables and all moving parts. Having a well functioning ebrake is worth the 15 min of maintance time.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[airschooled]

As I'm sure Colin taught you, a cross-hatch sand of the drums and shoes is a kindness to your car.

Robbie

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Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
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[aerosurfer]

[wcfvw69]

X2 on changing the calipers right now. Install them and then you have plenty of time in the USA to see if any issues arise before going S. of the border. If the rubber soft lines where not changed on the front or rear, it would be a great idea to swap them with new now as well. Cheap and takes little time to do it.

There's only so many things Colin can do during a short visit with a client. We don't know the exact list of "to do's" these folks were left with after Colin left. We all know it takes LOTS of time to thoroughly go through a 40+ year old buses systems, especially for folks who are not mechanics.

The good news for this couple is that they are spending lots of time in the states to do a good "shake out" cruise before going to Mexico. Hopefully all the quirks or issues present themselves before the bus is pointed south.
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Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

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[Stuartzickefoose]

Get the most sorted you can, looking like we will be doing another inspection here in Seattle...
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[Abscate]

Those pads are fine, but those rotors are not. I would guess your calipers are sticking and not letting the pistons push evenly on the rotors.

The rotors should like almost like mirrors - smooth and evenly polished where the pads hit. funkiness off the pad wear annulus (the math name for a bagel in two dimensions) is ok and normal.

Those dark spots where the pads should be wearing are telling you the calipers aren't right.

Save your old drums for spares. get them turned if they are funky. You can lightly oil them to stop them from rusting, then use gas on a rag to clean the oil off before you put them back in service.

You really should get brakes like new before a trip like this. Replace all parts, keep old ones as spares. If you can't carry them, box them, label them with codes, and have someone at home or on Samba ready to ship them to you on a heartbeat.
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.ssS!

[andrewtf]

I'll weigh in a bit (as I know a little bit more of the entire tale). I'm sure Sven and Emma will chime in as well.....

Every major mechanical system was gone thru with Colin. Indeed - that is why they feel confident in doing this work themselves in a parking lot in Denver. All systems were pretty much up to snuff when they pulled out of the driveway - or at least as up to snuff as 40 year old vehicles can be. Brakes were definitely taken apart and thoroughly scrutinized and tutorialized.

What caused this debacle was the horrifying tow on the interstate, which necessitated much braking and distress - to both Big Emma and the passengers. The sad part is that if the tow guy (who just happened to stop about 30 seconds after they pulled over) was 5 minutes later, they would have had the problem fixed and not needed the tow (fixed mostly due to Collin's instructional abilities).

I believe the front brakes are going to be attended to in Denver and then refreshed in Montana where they will have some more time and part shipping availability.

As Emma's dad - I thank you all for your support and offers of meet ups, parking spots, and technical assistance along their journey, and of course cold beer, and any other comforts.

I assume it goes without saying that I have also told them to be careful around Stewart (only kidding) when they get to Seattle.

thanks - Andrew
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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' (Pan American highway trip paused for a make over)
'77 Riviera - Murphy' (being reborn.... slowly)
'63 Austin Healey

[Stuartzickefoose]

Hehehe......


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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[GoBigEmma]

Hey guys,

thanks for your helpful comments and ideas! To make a case for Colin: Yes, we went through the brake system, we checked it all and it was in good condition. Of course that was before the string of really bad decisions on the interstate (including e-brake use while being towed. I learned my lesson, trust me).
Thanks to Colin, we feel confident to do these repairs on our own, having seen and done this before helps immensely.

[Stuartzickefoose]

Are you hitting Alaska before Seattle?


If you hit Seattle first it's the last frontier to stock up really well on bus stuff before hitting the open areas.


By the way, what are you running for lighting? You will definitely want SOMETHING more then headlights for backcountry....

You can ship to me if you desire and pick up when you get here and install too.
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[Xevin]

That's not a bad idea Stu. Plus Stu is a wizard procuring parts.
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Keep on Busin'

[vwwestyman]

I put the VisionKit on my '73 while I had it out of service this winter. It is a big upgrade.

I'd recommend adding a couple spare bulbs to the order, though. They seem to be (by necessity) just a little short-lived.

http://www.busdepot.com/visionkit1

Bus Depot lists it for a Vanagon, but the differences between what I had to do to the '73 and their directions were very minor.
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Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[Stuartzickefoose]

I mean light HID driving lights or a LED light bar. Go big or go Emma!


...wait.



_________________
Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[vwwestyman]

Stuart, with that kit on high beam, the lights are so bright you can see into the future!

They are also useful for cooking marshmallows and hot dogs, sealing heat-shrink tubing, and stripping paint.

No HIDs or light bars necessary.


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Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing