Joval said:
That's interesting, I know if I cut the engine on my bay and drop the anchor (servo & front discs) it takes a lot of foot to bring it to a stop.
I wonder how that would compare to drums... I've only ever had the comparison in a split after fitting CSP
discs and although there was an improvement it didn't feel like almost a 1000 €s worth.
THe remedy here is simple, first replace your check valve (cheap.) If that doesn't help, replace your servo or have it rebuilt. A bay with discs AND a good servo stops so fast it would make a Porsche blush! My dad had a 78 Westy that was maintained by the dealer all the way up to 1990, and then by an independent garage with nothing but old school German factory trained mechanics. THey tested the damn thing as if it was a 2 year old Carrera GT. THe servo started going, so they recommended a new ATE unit be installed, and he did it...all $600 of it or whatever silly amount it cost. With the proper 6 ply Michelin tires I could swear I felt the back tires come off the ground (JK!) but it stopped better than 90% of all the cars I've driven since. Same thing with a 74 Westy that came through, went to Johnson Autoworks. THe old boy built it for a trans Canadian trek, every piece of brakes and running gear bolted to that chassis was new or NOS. Every bolt, every spring, every bearing, even a brand new ATE servo. Same thing; your rear passengers better belt in or hang the **** on or they're getting a face full of cabinetry!
Here's another observation for your consideration...I break bays. Tons of them. Probably broke up 100 of them. I saved the servos from the last 40 or so, and just got round to testing them last week. Out of ALL those servos, 4 were good. One was new, 71 Deluxe that came in with it. I'm saving that one for my 71 panel. THe other ones look crusty but all have a visible ATE sticker, meaning they got a replacement instead of ignoring the loss of brake power. I can drive with just the handbrake, just a matter of mental preparation, I had a 58 bus that my girlfriend actually poured brake fluid into the reservoir through the access hole in the floor while we were driving every 40 miles because I didn't feel like rebuilding the wheel cylinders (watch out when buying a mechanic's car!) This is probably why about 1 in 10 buses had a good servo, no good other reason to drive around with a bad one unless you are used to it.
The best stopping bus however was that same neglected 58. I worked at a garage, and one of the guys there was an old timer named 'Smitty' and he helped me do the brakes. I bought ALL new German cylinders, new German lines, new German front drums with resurfaced rears, new German master cylinder with reservoir. THe brake parts alone were $700, and that was a months salary for me in 1991! After Smitty and I went through them, the bus stopped better than any other VW I've driven. Two of my friends still talk about the brakes on that 58. Drums win? Discs win? As long as you are willing to spend the money for good factory parts then either is good enough for me. Sorry for the long read...my guess is that if you made it this far you probably don't mind.
may need someone to give it too me in laymans terms :shock: 
