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Took the speedy out for a short spin yesterday and it turned out to be a lot shorter than I expected.

Went to brake and the pedal went to the floor. Got out and checked the fluid level and the reservoir appeared full. Got home, pumping the brake at each stop to build pressure.

My assumption is it's the master cylinder as I didn't detect any reduction in the reservoir fluid level and pumping seemed to help.

I'll pull the wheels today and check the wheel cylinders as well.

If it is the MC, is there a "best brand" for a combo front disc/rear drum setup?

Thanks.

 

Bob

   

       

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Talk about a price range - German $110, Brazil $99, EMPI China $26.  

https://www.jbugs.com/product/113611015BD.html

I've seen good quality from TRW/Varga Brazil.  

What do other's here think of the big bore 20.6 mmm master cylinders? Supposedly give firmer pedal. 

Good excuse to swap out your front brake/wide 5 adapters and go to stainless steel covered rubber brake line flex hoses!

Call me if you need a brake pedal pumper!

Last edited by WOLFGANG

Since the pan is a 70 standard beetle I am assuming (we know the problems with that) that I should go with a dual, German, M/C of the same year. German is more expensive, but I'm making the leap (perhaps erroneously) that it will be the best. Also, I want new, not rebuilt. These thing run up to over $200.00 it seems.

Might as well replace the switch too. $20.00 for German.

Teutonic engineering has a price!

I need, if it's the M/C, to measure the bore on the existing one I assume to see what it is. Some are up to 22 mm. plus.

If you can find an FTE German one for a 70 - 79 Super Beetle  ( Part number  113611015BH &nbsp it will be dual zone (front/rear) and should feel quite at home with your disk-front drum-rear setup.  The German one will set you back $175 plus.

If you want very good quality and don't feel the need to spend Deutsche Marks or Euros, then TRW/Varga either from Spain or Brazil will do very nicely, Part number 113611015BHX and costs around $120 each.  I've had a TRW/Varga in Pearl for several years now (maybe six?) and it's been working fine.  The previous el Cheapo one I used from Asia lasted about 18 months.  

Both of those numbers show on Bugcity.com, but the German one is out of stock. 

BTW, Bugcity.com has one of those "Big Bore 20mm versions, (part number 113611020BDD )  but at $36 each I would question the level of quality and would it last?

So for all the BIG BUCKS for the German or Spanish/Brazilian ones you get, what makes them more expensive?  Well, the quality of the steel used for the barrel is better; less porous and denser giving a better internal cylinder finish once polished, and the piston is stronger and won't deflect under pressure, and the seals at the actuator rod end are not only stronger but can be made of a more resilient material because there is less slop in the interface that might cause wear.

Oh, and then there's the guy or gal who made the thing, taking the time to get it right.

On the flexible hoses, I would ask how old are they?  Less than ten years, leave them.  Older than ten years, swap them and unless you're planning on a lot of panic stops or are taking it on the track, Plain Jane rubber hoses are fine.

Last edited by Gordon Nichols

I don't think so, but not fully sure, these days.

FTE is a German Auto Parts Manufacturer, been around a long time, but owned a short while ago by Bain Capital (Mitt Romney's old outfit) and sold to French Valeo.   They've been making parts for German cars for decades.  Don't know if ATE is affiliated with them or not, but they're both in the same businesses.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTE_automotive

 

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