Brakes - next step, vacuum booster

Tonight I deglazed the front disks and pads, then did the same on the rear shoes and drums.  I also reversed one side of the self adjusting fork which I hope makes a difference.

Probably most important was that I believe I eliminated a vacuum leak in the brake booster vacuum line.  In the engine compartment there was a junction with a crappy gasket.  I removed it and added new hose.  Then took my small vacuum tester and pulled 200psi for a good hour (it's still on now and I'll check in the morning).  I'm hoping that it still holds b/c this SHOULD mean that my booster is fine.

Wiring! Cleaning it up and organizing

Taking a break from wrestling with the braking system (don't get me started) and doing some things that I know I can actually finish.  I've added 8 wires from the Subaru ECU and the vanagon dashboard and it's really cleaned things up.  Things like Check Engine light, Tach, Oil Pressure, Oil temp, water temp, AC switch, all that are now wired.  I don't have them actually connected to lights or anything on the dash but they go from here under the rear seat:

A shot of my labeling and adding ends (with heat wrap):

Wires being routed under dashboard:

To this today. Not done yet at all, but much better than it was.  It will all be working when I am through with it!

Wiring

So, in the midst of it all I am rewiring the subaru engine to the vanagon dash.   Wiring is basically all there, except not as nice as I need it to be.  Having the wires routed cleanly and labeled really helps with troubleshooting.

Not done yet by a long shot, this is just a "in the middle of it all" photo.

More brakes

I swear I've bled the brakes 5 times and done through the configuration the same amount.  I've decided at this point that it HAS to be the master cylinder.  Reason being is that the brakes are bad no matter if I pull on the brake cable or not (setting the shoes closer to the drums), or if I pump the brakes (indicating air in the line), etc.  No matter what they are bad.  SO, new Master Cylinder here we come.

Here the brake adjustment fork is backwards, but they have since been fixed.

Interior rip apart

Been some time since I have been posting - work has been busy.  Past weekend I have needed to rewire the guages up front, and since I am waiting for a new Master Cylinder, figured why not now.

Of course to access wiring, I needed to pull cabinetry.  Ok, it wasn't required but I wanted to see what was behind the "magic curtain".   It's not if there was rust, but rather "how much".

Ouch.

I didn't show the actual sidewall where the real holes are.  Unfortunately the outer paint did cover up some real rust holes (some not so nicely covered!).  But overall it was not as bad as I feared.  Hopefully it won't cost too much to repair.  It's still able to be camped in the meantime.

ScanGauge II has arrived!

Cool stuff - the Scangauge has arrived.  I've plugged it in but have not really used it.  This explains the network cable I found routing to the front dash.

Should be helpful to track down trouble-codes.