[Vwdiesel] one to puzzle over

[Shalyn Shourds]

OK boys and girls.  Here's one to mull over.  '85
Jetta TD.  I recently did a bunch of brake work, rear
shoes, brake cables, rear cylinders, and master
cylinder.

I immediatly took it on a 2000 mile road trip.  Things
were fine till about the end.  Started really bogging
down over hills and seemed powerless.  Cleared up and
everything was fine.  Then, in the ensuing days, a
persistant squeaking started from the driver's side
that went away when I pushed the brakes or hit the
e-brake.  I took the rear brakes apart several times,
checked the rear bearings, replaced the rear rubber
brakes lines, and even replaced a spindle or stub axle
or whatever you call it.  Sqeaking's gone now, but I
can't hold 75 mph on the flat.  I've also pulled apart
the likely suspect wheel's brake cylinder and found
nothing wrong.  Bled it out numerous times.  Brakes
lines aren't dented or anything.  One last
peculiarity:  when I start the car, the brake pedal
sinks to the floor.  By the time I've been on the road
ten minutes, the pedal has almost zero travel.  Also,
fuel milage has sunk to the very low 30's from 40 mpg
and it runs hotter than I remember it doing.

At this point, I'm very open to suggestions from the
collective wisdom.  I think the brakes are binding
somehow, but I can't find where.  May mean it's
something else entirely.

Thanks.

-Shalyn

-85 Jetta TD