[Vwdiesel] brake frustrations

[sandy cameron]

On 4/7/2013 5:47 PM, dieseltdi at verizon.net wrote:

Ok, let's get down and dirty on this.

Some of the things below I have done in the past to winkle out dastardly 
defects in the brake systems.

1)  Make up some plugs from discarded steel brake line  ends.
I cut them off abt. 2 " from the connector, fold the line over on itself 
and pound it flat with a hammer, and solder the end of the tube to seal 
it well.
If using these home made plugs "on road" Don't depend on solder for 
safety, pound the lines folded and flat to ensure a heavy foot stomp 
does not blow them out

This trick allowed me to "limp" home from a long road trip with front 
brakes only, after a rear line blowout. The front provides 90% of 
braking effort.

I always have a set of 4 in the glove compartment

2) Disconnect the 2 lines to the rear of the car at the MC, and plug the 
holes. Run your tests to prove the MC and front brakes.

Good? reconnect one rear line and try it, and so on.

3) If still acting up, plug 3 out of 4 and try again, or, plug them ALL 
and start from there (If the MC is OK) reconnecting one at a time, until 
you identify the culprit.

You have to divide and conquer when the sneaky buggers are leading you 
around the mulberry bush like that.

Sandy.