And he can't spell a lick 
His spelling is a lot better when he's got something to say and actually trying to get a point across than when he's just rambling on and fartin' in the wind. He plays the good ol' country bumpkin, but he's a pretty intelligent guy.
Mark Tucker's spelling and punctuation belies a pretty sharp guy. A face to face conversation with him reveals very quickly that he knows his stuff, and he is a personable and likeable fellow.
I've never met him, but it sounds about right.
Well, you guys were right.... or is it wright? The wheel cylinder is locked up tighter than a drum (excuse the pun). I can't even get the piston to move with a big screw driver. I'll replace everything, MC, shoes, lines, everything. 
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OK, now we're getting somewheres. Since it was mentioned, and later discounted I think, but while you're at it, I suppose you could inspect all to be sure no line kinks.
On the yellow beetle: Leapin' Lizards, Batman!! Somebody was recently asking about how visible the sidewinder exhaust pipes are?? Well here ya go . . . Nice rain hats too -- wonder how well these work??
Is there a VW part # on it? Might even be able to cross ref VARGA/ATE to a VW one but like Carey said a 68-77 cylinder will work.
Is it just 1 side or are both rear wheel cylinders siezed (seized? I dunno...spellin' police! Hey, that's me! Uh oh...), Paul?
Even if just one, I'd do both in case you get a different diameter bore.
It's both sides, locked up completely. I should have jacked up the rear and put the car in gear, then stepped on the brake..... That would have told me there were no rear brakes.
Anyway, I got new wheel cylinders, shoes, a spring kit and two big bottles of brake fluid for less than $50. I'm waiting to hear from Carey about the MC.
I took one side apart and when I got back from the parts store all the brake fluid was on the floor, must have run from the MC to the open line at the rear and completely drained it. This leads me to conclude there are no kinks.
This car is ten years old and had 13K when I got it. I can tell from the paperwork it sat for months at a time. I need to go completely through it. After finishing the brakes, I'll repack the front bearings.
It blows my mind that you guys diagnosed this brake issue.
BobG posted:Mark Tucker's spelling and punctuation belies a pretty sharp guy. A face to face conversation with him reveals very quickly that he knows his stuff, and he is a personable and likeable fellow.
But in a face-to-face conversation how do you know if he uses the correct form of brake or break, peddle, petal, or pedal?? He might be using the wrong homonym. LOL
Hoo Kairs, as long as we get the point!
I installed the new wheel cylinders and shoes. Waiting for the Beck parts guy to call me about the MC. I opened the little bleeder valve on both rear wheels and filled the reservoir. Within just a couple of minutes fluid was trickling out of the bleeders. So I closed them and refilled the reservoir. Unfortunately, my wife and sons were not home to help with the bleeding. For the heck of it, I reached in and pushed on the brake pedal. It seemed perfect, not the slightest bit mushy. This seemed strange. I have fought with brakes for hours attempting to get the air out and some firmness in the pedal.
So I decide to take it for a spin even though it's raining a little. It was much improved. The rears were obviously working but the fronts still locked a little in a panic stop. But remember the road is wet.
I went back home and my wife had arrived so I put her in the driver's seat and started bleeding, RR first. There was some air in the line but the fluid looked good. Moved to the other side and got the same. I then went to the front right and noticed the fluid was honey colored. I kept refilling the reservoir and bleeding the fronts until I got new fluid to come out.
I took it for another test drive and it was great. The pavement is still wet but the brakes refused to lock up and the car stops in a straight line. I couldn't be happier with it.
I'm still going to replace all the rubber lines and the MC when I can get my hands on the parts. But for now, life is good.
Cory just texted me that he was going for a test spin. I'm holding my breath and keeping my fingers crossed.
Time to break out a cold one. MC can be a pain to bleed manually.
Paul- Can you measure the old rear wheel cylinder bore? I'd like to know for my records. Thanks in advance. Al
I'll have to go at it with a hammer to get the pistons out, but I'll give it a shot.
As far as the MC, I just bench bleed it... right?
Yup.
Bench prime it, put it in and bleed the same way you just did.
If you can get a pressure bleeder it makes the job much easier, but if you only use it once every five years or so they're hard to justify. Although, I made a 2-quart one out of a bug sprayer for about $25 bucks.
I think I have one somewhere. My problem is having three twenty something young men who all think they're mechanics and never put any tools away. I keep buying the same tools over and over again.
Anyway, I put one of the old wheel cylinders in a big vice and squeezed it. Didn't move it AT ALL. So I took a chisel and big ass hammer to it. Still didn't move one little bit. I guess I'll soak it in something and try again. Maybe hit it with a torch and see what happens. Crap, no wonder I didn't have rear brakes.
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Back as kid in the backyard using Dad's tools on bikes, go carts, mini bikes etc. my Dad had this unique knack of finding them with our new Craftsman mower :~)
Regarding the tools...
I'm in a very tool-intensive occupation. I've got 3 trucks full of tools, a set for the shop, and a set for my home shop. That's a lot of tools. Lots and lots and lots of tools. About $500/mo for tools.'
Anyhow... I've taken to buying 6-in-1 screwdrivers 25 at a time, and I'm pretty sure that eventually there will be a razor-knife and tape measure laying on or around every piece of equipment we work on. I cannot, for love or money keep those things... anywhere.
Everything's got to be somewhere. It's a rule.
Diesel mechanic had worked on my big truck car carrier, swore he left his $$$ Snap On LED work light in my truck but no where to be found. 3 1/2 weeks later and 7,000 miles I took in in for the next service, Mechanic tilts the trucks nose there sat his LED light up on a frame rail...how it stayed there we'll never know.
I have discovered that lost tools are always found in the last place you look.
During Paul's latest visit to my garage, he was searching for an ancient, but favorite, wrench that he'd JUST been using -- no luck.
Hmmm...
As soon as he left, look what peeked out to mock us:
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I finally got the wheel cylinder apart. Here are a couple of pictures. This is a prime example of how parking a car for long periods is harder on them then driving them is. I have ordered the MC from Beck and braided lines from CB. In the mean time, it's stopping great.
Every time I come in from a drive I say to my wife.... "you know what?" And she says "I know, I know, you just love that car."
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PaulEllis posted:
...Every time I come in from a drive I say to my wife.... "you know what?" And she says "I know, I know, you just love that car."...
It's amazing how Speedster drivers all seem to marry the same sort of wife.
Looks like 23 mm
Yes, it does. Of course, you have to go out and buy a metric caliper! I have a digital one that does both. Lifesaver, I hate doing the conversion!
Thanks, Paul; much appreciated! And Merry Christmas everybody!
Wouldn't that be 17mm wheel cylinders?
17mm/25.4 = .669"
I think you're right, James. Good catch.
Ah, Too used to digital read-outs
I got the MC and rod from Beck yesterday, also door pulls. Just waiting on the stuff from CB to finish the job.
James posted:Wouldn't that be 17mm wheel cylinders?
17mm/25.4 = .669"
?
The gauge reads about .91"+/-.
23 mm/25.4= 0.905511811023622"
Stan- I may be reading it wrong, but on the slide part, it hasn't hit .700". The big line is 0 and it's marked off in .100" increments. The gauge measures .001" increments, does it not?
Of course you are right. I also apparently can no longer read analog measurements (at least on my phone).
In other news: my watch says that the big hand is on the "3", & the little hand is on the "2"-- it must be 3:02, right? Is it time for "Wheel of Fortune" yet?
Is that a tool I would use to measure the valves in my engine? 