From: buggin@camelot.bradley.edu (John Wilentz)
Subject: Re: [A] Brakes stuck
Organization: Bradley University
Distribution: usa
Date: 26 Jan 93 00:47:03 GMT

In <81768@hydra.gatech.EDU> gt5840a@prism.gatech.EDU (Fred Anders) writes:

>In article <1993Jan21.174301.24904@novell.com> dheckman@novell.com writes:

>< description of problem with emergency brake sticking in rainy weather
>    omitted >


>When it snowed one day last winter (rare around here), my friend and I
>took out my '74 Superbeetle to see if there was any truth to the rumor
>that bugs are good in snow.  Well, it seems there wasn't (maybe the balding
>tires didn't help) because we were slipping and skidding all over the
>place.  In the true spirit of Fahrvergnugen, however, we took advantage
>of the situation by finding a empty parking lot and doing donuts and 180's
>instead.  (Relax, I don't make a habit of abusing my precious bug, but
>I figured it was the only chance I'd ever get to cut loose and actually
>spin the tires on a beetle).

>Anyway, after an hour of fun, we parked the car, set the brake, and
>allowed it to sit overnight.  The next morning, when the snow was all gone,
>I tried to go for a drive, but the wheels were apparently seized.  If
>I slowly let out the clutch, the car would tilt forward or backward (but
>not roll) until the engine stalled.  Fearing that I had upset the VW
>powers that be with my petty indulgences the previous night, I remembered
>the cardinal rule of old cars: "If it doesn't work, don't force it."  I got
>out the jack and raised up the back end, not that I knew what I was looking
>for.  Anyhow, I tried to spin the rear wheels by hand.  I seem to recall
>they stuck for just a second, then broke free with a small pop.  I
>lowered the car and everything has worked happily ever since.

>In retrospect, I thought either something in the brake works (or maybe
>the emergency brake cable itself) had temporarily frozen due to the cold.
>Or maybe it got stuck due to the wet as you described.  Now that I think
>about it, however, it seems like it should have been the front brakes that
>were locked because the car reared forward and back when I tried letting
>out the clutch.  Go figure.  Oh well...

>-- 
>Fred Anders - Manufacturing Research Center, Georgia Tech
>Internet: gt5840a@prism.gatech.edu    (404) 875-5071
>'74 Superbeetle Convertible

some of the most fun i ever had was taking my 74 super sedan out in the 
snow to teach myself to drive in the snow.  It was the greatest!  I found the 
car rather sure footed...but scince i had nothing to compare it with I guess
that isn't really a valid opinion.  Anyway it was great fun.

gotta love the autostick.  My car couldn't really stall unless i got the engine
rpm'
s really high.  which i never had to do.  the stuck brakes i only forced after
talking to my autoshop teacher.  I explained to him the problem and he said
to try just hitting the gas.  (the catr was in one of our bays at the time) 
it worked!

another point about the autostick.  did you know that you could jumpstart the car even tho it had a torque converter?  true you had to be going about 15 mph and then pop it into low...but that was just fine.  gosh what a great tranny....

John
 

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