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Post by busaddict on Oct 6, 2015 0:44:58 GMT -8
My 2 buses were manufactured only months apart, but have this difference in the rear brake assemblies. The spreader bar is different, and is it my imagination or is the hub nut bigger on the '74? Another difference. which may have occurred along the way, the '74 has no spring retainer clips on the brake shoes. These are before pics, the '74 was done sometime ago, now working on the '73. Also, I have some Euromax brake shoes which I bought, but I was also given a set of Raybestos shoes, which are better? The name is honest but a bit scary. I always use mask and goggles when doing brakes and I'm careful not to make a mess if I can avoid it. I'm still not sure what the Euromax are made from, I treat them all as if they are asbestos.  A close up of the 1973 brake shoe set up.  |
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Post by busaddict on Oct 6, 2015 20:28:33 GMT -8
OK, so I ordered the right brake shoes. My 1973 model year bus was built in December 1972.
From cip1.ca: "Volkswagen changed the rear brake shoe design half way through the year, you will need to find out the exact month your Bus was built as Buses built after 12th month of 1972 use part number VWC-211-609-537-N. Do not order unless you are sure about your month of manufacture."
In other braking news...what is the secret to disconnecting a hardline from the wheel cylinder? I have an 11mm flare nut wrench, but it's still tricky to get it in the right position.
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Post by Volktales on Oct 7, 2015 7:18:17 GMT -8
If too tight, heat is your friend... Make sure you use a quality line wrench. Craftsman line wrenches are garbage by the way... And it often helps to remove the bleeder screw first for better access.
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Post by busaddict on Oct 7, 2015 13:28:21 GMT -8
If too tight, heat is your friend... Make sure you use a quality line wrench. Craftsman line wrenches are garbage by the way... And it often helps to remove the bleeder screw first for better access. Removing the bleeder screw makes sense, can I do that without all the brake fluid running out? I haven't got to the heat option yet. Here are the 2 wrenches I bought specifically for bus brakes. I also sprayed it with Freeze-Off. Thanks Russ, I'll let you know how it goes when the rain stops   |
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Post by busaddict on Oct 17, 2015 21:45:50 GMT -8
OK, so removing the bleeder screw is the magic, and letting the hardline nut soak in a bit of Freeze-Off helped a lot too. Greased the new wheel cylinder with high temp brake grease and it all looks good. Cleaned up the backing plate and will install the new brake shoes soon. |
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Post by busaddict on Oct 22, 2015 21:14:48 GMT -8
Finally had some time to get back out there. Installed new Euromax brake shoes with a new wheel cylinder and some spare brake linkage I had from MikeD81 (thanks! Mike!) Yes, as Russ suggested, removing the bleed screw makes life much easier when removing or putting in a wheel cylinder. I had a pair of new retaining springs, but they were more sprung and too difficult to get in with a set of blunt nose pliers so I used the old ones which weren't pretty but serviceable. I also lightly greased the pivot pins at either end of the spreader bar. I wore a mask and glasses and gently sanded the surface of the brake shoes and the inside of the drum to help them seat. The star adjusters were in great shape and I only wasted one horseshoe clip when I put the bar on the wrong side of one shoe...doh! I think the other side will be faster to replace  |
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Post by busaddict on Apr 18, 2021 18:00:02 GMT -8
I'm reviving this thread as I'm doing brakes on the '74 Bus again. Question: On the left is the picture for CIP1's 73-79 Bus brake shoes. On the right is what I have in my spares box. They look slightly different...so are they going to fit my '74? Otherwise I need to order some quickly. VWC-211-609-537-N - NEW BRAKE SHOE SET OF 4 (S421) - REAR - BUS 1/73-79 www.cip1.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D211%2D609%2D537%2DN  |
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Post by Volktales on Apr 18, 2021 21:36:55 GMT -8
Looks like the shoes you have do not have the slots for the '74 style spreader bars. I think those are for you '73 based on your earlier pictures...
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Post by busaddict on Apr 18, 2021 22:18:16 GMT -8
Looks like the shoes you have do not have the slots for the '74 style spreader bars. I think those are for you '73 based on your earlier pictures... Thanks Russ, I think you're right, I dug out this pair of photos from about 7 years ago when I last did the '74 rear brakes. I guess my 73 has the slightly different earlier version. I need to write things down more   |
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Post by busaddict on Apr 18, 2021 22:48:56 GMT -8
Useful videos from Just Kampers in the UK. These apply to my '74, a great refresher before you start:
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Post by busaddict on May 9, 2021 17:52:00 GMT -8
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Post by Volktales on May 9, 2021 20:15:47 GMT -8
The joys of repro parts. I have used a bolt with two nuts on it in the past to do that job. The second nut locks the first one in place. It will work but looks hokey. Or you could just drill the hole out bigger if your old pin is reusable.
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Post by busaddict on May 9, 2021 21:07:37 GMT -8
The joys of repro parts. I have used a bolt with two nuts on it in the past to do that job. The second nut locks the first one in place. It will work but looks hokey. Or you could just drill the hole out bigger if your old pin is reusable. I thought about drilling the hole, it's a very slight but significant difference. Wish I'd ordered the suggested pins, I'll try and find some tomorrow. Thanks for the quick response Russ |
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Post by CrazyBrit on May 10, 2021 6:56:25 GMT -8
I just drilled the holes out when I did my bus. It has 1968 brakes on the 1957 bus.
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Post by busaddict on May 11, 2021 20:34:31 GMT -8
Thanks CrazyBrit. Russ, is this what you mean?  |
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