[RWebb]

thx - they do have a star wheel in there - looks like you have to take the wheel off to get at it.

possibly the m/c -- it is 1.5 years old (!) and I bought it from the most expensive and largest Vanagon parts supplier to ensure it was a quality part (the VW new parts scene seems to be heavily infested with low quality parts made out of chinese drywall) -- so get this, I looked at the m/c ~6 months after I installed it (and it goes into the passenger cabin BTW) and the outside of it was totally rusted over - they had used some sort of super cheap paint or coating on it.

The system has not been opened up recently, so I don't think it has air in it (except maybe from a possibly bad m/c).

No pulsing - the front rotors and rear shoes are 1 year old and have < 1,000 miles on them.

All wheel bearings are new - of course, with the shops here not exactly inspiring confidence maybe they effed them up...

I'll drive it around for awhile and see if it gets better.