Re: Emergency!!! No Brakes

["Virtual World Parts" <kmpotter@ix.netcom.com>]

> At 10:02 PM 6/17/97 -0400, you wrote:
> >Anyone outthere (hopefully Shawn, Potterman, or any brake buffs),
> >
> >My brakes on my 80 Scirocco just went and this is my only car, I need it
> >for work tomorrow.  Here is the situation:
> >
> >Brake has felt "spongy" for quite a while, regardless of the amount of
> >fluid in the system.  Tonight, they completely went, brake to the floor
> >and nothing, except at the very bottom (about last 1/2 inch - and then
> >very minimal, no full stopage).  I went to the store, got fluid, filled
> >up the reservoir, nothing.
> 
> 
> OK, back up, I need more info to help. 
> Now, the brake fluid Res was empty, right? Where did the fluid go? Did it 
> leak out? If so, from where. (Check each wheel for brake fluid leak. Check 
> the res for a leak.) If there is no leak, then you probably have a bad m
> aster cylinder. If this is the case, chances are good, you will be late for 
> work tomorrow.  
> Is it possible you have a very slow leak that is undetectable and you 
> simply neglected the fluid levels and you sucked air into the M/C? 
> Brake pad wear will also lower the fluid level in the res over time. If you 
> havent touched the fluid since you got the car, this could have happened 
> also. 
 
Shawn is right, Check for leaks I once had a 79 (AKA: THRASHER) that 
the brakes went out very slowly. So when they did die I changed the 
master & the damn thing took 3 bottles of brake fluid & would never 
bleed, still felt like a bad master. 
If there is a possiblty of rust where you are pull up the carpet on 
the drivers side footwell area. There is a brake line that goes from 
the gas pedal area shoots left & goes down the rocker panel to the 
rear. Mine was trashed & all 3 bottles of brake fluid were now on my 
carpet. It seemed that the even SO CAL roads rusted away my 
floorboard & my brake line:-)  

 
> >My question is:  do I just need to bleed the lines (which have not been
> >done for I don't know how long - I've had the car for 6 mths now)
> 
> You could try that first. But the main question you need to search out 
> thuroughly is where did the fluid go? If it leaked someplace, it should be 
> seen easily enough. look for brake fluid on the inside of the wheels. Brake 
> fluid leaking out of the master cylinder or even fluid leaking from the 
> brake lines. You gotta check it all until you find out where it went. 



Yeh dont waste to much brake fluid before checking for leaks.  I've 
even seen the booster fill up with brake fluid witch would really 
suck.

 
> >will I need a new master cylinder.  If a new MC is the case, can I take
> >one off of an 82 Scirocco?
> 
> I dunno about the interchangability of the different body styles. My first 
> instinct is yes, it should work fine but then again, I dunno for sure. 
> Maybe somebody with parts experience can help?? (MIKE!) 

YES it will work!!
All german 80 to late 83& early 84 (Scirocco1,2 , Convertable & Jetta 
1 ) are the same.

 
> >If yes, please send help with any know how on how to complete this task.
> >Thank you all,
> >John
> >80 Scirocco S


No problem, BTW if it is the line under the carpet I still have the 
piece of line that I made to fix mine.( the car was toatled about a 
6 months after & I parted it out )
GL
Potterman
80 Scirocco S
Michael Potter
VIRTUAL WORLD PARTS
http://www.parts4vws.com
vwparts@thegrid.net
(714) 663-2434
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