Brake system experts, help needed (non-Camaro)

[Rogue Leader]

yeah I know that I shouldn't put this here but I have 3 weeks till my next race and I am at a loss and need a solution urgently.

The problem: my race car (24 hrs of Lemons) is a 1993 VW Fox, it has drum rear brakes. On the brake lines between the hard lines and the rubber lines that go to the axle above the rear axle on each side is a small tube listed in the shop manual as a brake proportioning valve. Unfortunately one of them has a slight leak (its weeping a very tiny amount, it leaked more but re tightening it fixed it, the leak now is coming from the middle of the valve where some sort of rubber band seal is around it). The real problem is nobody has this part, it basically no longer exists, and the ones found in junkyards generally are leaky too.

We want the rear brakes to remain functional, and we really have no need for adjustment, we want them to "just work" as they did, they were fine.

The ONLY solution I have come up with so far is to use an adjustable valve like Wilwood sells here:

http://www.wilwood.com/MasterCylinde...derValves.aspx

Problem is I don't even know where to set it to get it right.

They also have those residual pressure valves, what if I like flipped one of those around to give minimum pressure to the back?

Any other suggestions? Trying not to spend a million bucks on this.

[Redemption]

SO this is where the brake lines split to go drivers/passenger side? Or up front by the master cylinder.

If its in the back, you could go cheap and just a T-fitting ?

Just throwing it out there.

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by Redemption

SO this is where the brake lines split to go drivers/passenger side? Or up front by the master cylinder.

If its in the back, you could go cheap and just a T-fitting ?

Just throwing it out there.

The car actually has separate valves for each side of the rear of the car, its inline on the brake line actually right between where the brake line goes from a hard line to a flexible rubber line by the axle. Instead of just being connected together, this valve is in between.

I would like to put something in place to basically maintain the same or similar brake bias as stock. I wish I could just get the stock part but it seems not to exist anymore.

[TLSTWIN]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

The ONLY solution I have come up with so far is to use an adjustable valve like Wilwood sells here:

http://www.wilwood.com/MasterCylinde...derValves.aspx

Problem is I don't even know where to set it to get it right.

I believe I know what part you are talking about, but never had to come up with a replacement idea, I was always able to get them from junk yards.......

Have you tried posting up or reading the VW forums....? They would be the best place for knowing the settings and replacement ideas....... definitely don't want the rear brakes applying to much pressure under braking......

Sorry I couldn't be of more help....don't know the VW's very well..

[TLSTWIN]

How about this?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/adjustable-.../p2031028.jcwx

http://www.carpartswholesale.com/par...ing_valve.html

Not sure what it looks like, but are any of these it?
http://www.thefind.com/cars/browse-bendix-brake-valves

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by TLSTWIN

I believe I know what part you are talking about, but never had to come up with a replacement idea, I was always able to get them from junk yards.......

Have you tried posting up or reading the VW forums....? They would be the best place for knowing the settings and replacement ideas....... definitely don't want the rear brakes applying to much pressure under braking......

Sorry I couldn't be of more help....don't know the VW's very well..

Tried the VW forum, found a site that has it listed, but I emailed them twice with no response.

Originally Posted by TLSTWIN

How about this?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/adjustable-.../p2031028.jcwx

http://www.carpartswholesale.com/par...ing_valve.html

Not sure what it looks like, but are any of these it?
http://www.thefind.com/cars/browse-bendix-brake-valves

It basically looks like this:



but one end is male, and a flared brake line goes to it, the other end is attached to rubber brake hose.

I believe i could use any of those proportioning valves if they are set up for 1 line only, unless I did something custom near the master cylinder. But this is all just getting a bit crazy to replace whats probably a $10 piece of metal.

Part of me want to just pull it out, clean it, and weld the weep hole shut, then the damn thing should just work, I hope.

[TLSTWIN]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

Tried the VW forum, found a site that has it listed, but I emailed them twice with no response.




It basically looks like this:



but one end is male, and a flared brake line goes to it, the other end is attached to rubber brake hose.

I believe i could use any of those proportioning valves if they are set up for 1 line only, unless I did something custom near the master cylinder. But this is all just getting a bit crazy to replace whats probably a $10 piece of metal.

Part of me want to just pull it out, clean it, and weld the weep hole shut, then the damn thing should just work, I hope.

Ya, the last link had a bunch of, what appeared to be OEM parts....I was hoping

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by TLSTWIN

Ya, the last link had a bunch of, what appeared to be OEM parts....I was hoping

Yeah the last one has the OEM one for the older versions of the car but not the 93 which had a lot of changes. So ridiculous that they went to this setup.

I found a company called Dorman that makes valves like I need, but NOT the one for the Fox, but I emailed them anyway to see if one of their valves is comparable, and then I can just get some fittings and "make it work". Thanks for trying!

[Rogue Leader]

SO I have found a POSSIBLE solution to my problem:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...3-1609765.html

These LOOK like what I need but they are for a Golf, this site has no listing other than racing adjustable valves for the Fox. Called the local dealer asked them to check/cross reference and they said there is no cross reference for the part from the Fox to this Golf part.

I called my buddy who races with me and runs a Golf and he said these are simply pressure reducers, which is what the valves on my Fox I assume are as well. Also on the Golf these mount directly to the Master Cylinder, where on the Fox they are in the rear of the car. My fear is that because the Golf has smaller rear drums that the pressure will be lower than what the Fox would have. That said, I'd rather have less pressure than too much, and the rear brakes don't do a whole ton for us anyway so I believe this will be fine.

I hope....

[TLSTWIN]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

SO I have found a POSSIBLE solution to my problem:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...3-1609765.html

These LOOK like what I need but they are for a Golf, this site has no listing other than racing adjustable valves for the Fox. Called the local dealer asked them to check/cross reference and they said there is no cross reference for the part from the Fox to this Golf part.

I called my buddy who races with me and runs a Golf and he said these are simply pressure reducers, which is what the valves on my Fox I assume are as well. Also on the Golf these mount directly to the Master Cylinder, where on the Fox they are in the rear of the car. My fear is that because the Golf has smaller rear drums that the pressure will be lower than what the Fox would have. That said, I'd rather have less pressure than too much, and the rear brakes don't do a whole ton for us anyway so I believe this will be fine.

I hope....

Wow, good find and good luck....

Ya, you can always adjust your speed with shifting if need be..

[Mr Twisty]

OKLAHOMA VEE-DUB
(580) 355-2397
ask for Jim

[Rogue Leader]

Just wanted to update all who helped out, the solution I posted above worked. I was able to use the Golf valves successfully and it works at least in limited testing of the car on the street. Next race is next weekend, hope they still work good!

[TLSTWIN]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

Just wanted to update all who helped out, the solution I posted above worked. I was able to use the Golf valves successfully and it works at least in limited testing of the car on the street. Next race is next weekend, hope they still work good!

cool congrats