Brake booster shot? New shoes?--77 Westy Deluxe
Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:21 am
Hi all! Aloha from Hawaii.
My brakes have been steadily getting worse for a little while now, and I finally had some time yesterday to take a look at them. It's gotten to the point now that I have to press very hard in order to get serious braking power. Let me give you a quick run down of what I noticed and then ask my questions. I have a 1977 Westy Deluxe.
I checked all brakes. Pads were fine on the front, shoes looked a little thin in the back. On the rear left, the stars were completely frozen to the screws, so I wasn't able to adjust that brake, even after an hour or so of PBlasting and tapping with a hammer (I removed the drum for easier access to the stars). I then bled the brake system and noticed a few things. First, that my wife was able to press the pedal all the way to the floor when we were bleeding the front brakes, but only half-way or so for the rear brakes. Next, while bleeding the front left brakes, I noticed a small wet sucking spot (about the size of a dime) on the engine side of the brake booster. When she pressed the pedal down, this spot would get a little more wet.
Here are my questions:
1. Any additional suggestions for loosening up the adjuster stars?
2. Any recommendations on where to get good brake shoes? I'd like to order them ASAP.
3. Is the brake booster shot? If so, should I have it rebuilt (where?) or try to buy a new one?
4. Is it normal that my wife could only press halfway down for the rears but all the way for the fronts? If not, what could this mean?
I think that's it for now. Please feel free to ask if I left any important details out (I probably did). Thanks in advance for your help!
--Dave
My brakes have been steadily getting worse for a little while now, and I finally had some time yesterday to take a look at them. It's gotten to the point now that I have to press very hard in order to get serious braking power. Let me give you a quick run down of what I noticed and then ask my questions. I have a 1977 Westy Deluxe.
I checked all brakes. Pads were fine on the front, shoes looked a little thin in the back. On the rear left, the stars were completely frozen to the screws, so I wasn't able to adjust that brake, even after an hour or so of PBlasting and tapping with a hammer (I removed the drum for easier access to the stars). I then bled the brake system and noticed a few things. First, that my wife was able to press the pedal all the way to the floor when we were bleeding the front brakes, but only half-way or so for the rear brakes. Next, while bleeding the front left brakes, I noticed a small wet sucking spot (about the size of a dime) on the engine side of the brake booster. When she pressed the pedal down, this spot would get a little more wet.
Here are my questions:
1. Any additional suggestions for loosening up the adjuster stars?
2. Any recommendations on where to get good brake shoes? I'd like to order them ASAP.
3. Is the brake booster shot? If so, should I have it rebuilt (where?) or try to buy a new one?
4. Is it normal that my wife could only press halfway down for the rears but all the way for the fronts? If not, what could this mean?
I think that's it for now. Please feel free to ask if I left any important details out (I probably did). Thanks in advance for your help!
--Dave