The Squareback Zone!

[Kev]

Just put the short block together!  Thanks to Mark for help with the crank last night!  Woot, first time I've done this!

[corradojeff]

keep it going :)

good work

[coolblue57bug]

Mark rocks. He helped me put my motor together. Damn thing is a beast.......

[Kev]

The car is up on jack stands again.  Rear drums are off.  Had forgotten about the two piece drums on the type 3's so no need to get the axle nuts off (not that they were going to budge anyway).  Got the passenger caliper off yesterday. Gee no brake fluid came out of the line when I disconected it...  There is a lip on the rotor so not sure if they are too thin to be ground and re-used. Calipers are questionable.  Anyone know a way to test them?

[j.reyven]

I don't know of a way to "test them" without them being on the car, in a closed system, and pressing the brake pedal.

... ie: an actual "in use" scenario is the closest to real,  :) .... without fancy test equipment, you can't duplicate the pressure.

but, for reference, this is what a bad T3 caliper looks like.



notice the trashed (burnt) rubber seal on the left piston,


- I'd say visually inspect the rubber seals for cracks, age, etc. ....
- then push the pistons in and out... (they should move each other, they are connected by passages)
- also listen to them ... if they sound "grindy" , they probably have rust in there,
- they shouldn't wobble at all either....

basically, that's it... and that they don't leak everywhere. :)

- worst case, ... DIP has new Varga's for $69 each, and that's with new pads included.

oh, and on the rear, replace the rear cylinders anyway, they are only $15 each.


P.S. I didn't realize mine were missing brake hardware until I got the new calipers,
 there are supposed to be "expander springs" in there to keep the pads apart,
 (they are kinda' a thin, flat metal plate that goes between the pads) .... mine were non-existent.

[j.reyven]

Kev, do you have a Type 3 Technical or shop Manual?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/books/type3.php

I've got the 1600 Elfrink book, (7th one down)
.. and everything I've learned about my T3 I got from that book.

lol, but I'm also fan of old technical drawings and exploded views....

[Kev]

I have the uber shop manual for the type 3.  It is a god send!

Already planned on replacing the rear cylinders, all soft lines, and probably the long brake line inside the car as well.

[j.reyven]

What I like about my manual is that is was made in 1969 so it's only for the early T3's, and the book isn't cluttered with a lot of later model procedures.

BUT what I don't like is they often say things like "this can easily be adjusted using tool VW 1235b .... which we know you don't have because it hasn't been made in 40 years" 

- for my rears, both sides, (shoes, cylinders, hoses, and rear seals), I only had to put out about $85 
- fronts were a little more, but I replaced both calipers and had one bad rotor.

[Kev]

Well, it has been a long time since I have updated this.  Turns out my rotors are a tiny bit too thin so Autozone cant turn them. 

I am in serious need of motivation.  I want to get my paint done this spring but am having a hard time getting out there to wet sand in the cold weather.

[Kev]

OK just made a long overdue trip to DIP.  Dropped 300 smackers on brake parts.  New calipers and rotors up front, and shoes and cylinders for the back. New flex lines and a reservoir as well.  Finally!  Now to actually get out there and install the parts... 

[RyanB]

Hows it goin Kev?  Weather warming up a bit now!

[Kev]

Just got the front rotors, calipers, and hoses on today, as well as the right rear cylinder, shoes, and hose.  Still need to do drivers side rear.  The rear brake hoses are a major pain to do!  I puled the old brake fluid resevoir and will be replacing it, after I get the metal in that part of the trunk cleaned and the right color.

[corradojeff]

good progress buddy. get that thing on the road!

[CatBox]

Keep it up and you might just have a running car again this year.

So do you have a time line or is it just when ever you can get'er dun.

[Nacho]

Hey Kev, my friend Joel from the Tri-Cities has a TON of type three parts that he sells. Send me a PM of the parts you may need and I'll see if he's got them