Date:         Wed, 23 Feb 2000 12:33:16 -0500
Reply-To:     "Wagner, James W., , SAF/AQPS" <WagnerJW@PENTAGON.AF.MIL>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Wagner, James W., , SAF/AQPS" <WagnerJW@PENTAGON.AF.MIL>
Subject:      Re: Bigger Brakes was: My thoughts after hearing some responses
Comments: To: Mike Conlon <zippledippledoo@YAHOO.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

I don't think the front and rear wheels would lock up at the same moment,
because the ratios of fluid pressure to wheel torque for drum and disc
brakes are different.  As long as the drum brake is sufficiently weaker than
the disc (i.e. takes more fluid pressure to cause the same torque on the
wheel), there shouldn't be a problem.

(Speaking from an engineering background, but no experience with Vanagon
aftermarket brakes)

James Wagner
1985 GL Westfalia, 170K

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Mike Conlon
> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 11:54 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Bigger Brakes was: My thoughts after hearing
> some responses
>
>
> Ken:
>
> A dumb question:  Since the front brakes will now have
> more "oomph", wouldn't you need to compensate for this
> through a different proportioning valve setting?  That
> is, the front to rear brake "load" is at a factory
> setting such that the front and rear tires lock up at
> the same moment.  Won't putting beefier front brakes
> on, without addressing the proportioning valve, cause
> the front end to lock before the rear?  I know that
> auto racers use cockpit adjustable brake proportioning
> valves.  Would such a device, or something similiar,
> be necessary with this brake kit?  Inquiring minds
> want to know!
>
> Mike Conlon
> 1986 Syncro Westfalia "Fritz", 189K
>
> --- KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:
> > I sell a kit for bigger front vented disc brakes for
> > the Vanagon.  The kit
> > comes with new hubs (which are separate from the
> > rotors) with studs in them
> > like syncro front hubs.  The hubs come with new
> > bearings.  New Larger Vented
> > Rotors.  New Calipers, new brake hoses, and a set of
> > brake pads.  All of this
> > stuff for $575.  The nice thing about this kit is
> > that all of the parts are
> > VW factory parts from South Africa.  No jimmy-rigged
> > or modified stuff,
> > Factory stuff!  This fits on any 86 or newer Vanagon
> > with 15" or bigger rims
> > (would work fine on your van since you already have
> > 16" rims).  The kit
> > should also fit syncro Vanagons with some minor
> > modifications (you don't need
> > the new hubs, but keep them in case you need the new
> > bearings as these run
> > around $60 each anyway).  I also have a kit for the
> > 80-85 Vanagon which is
> > $695 (includes the uprights that you need to make
> > the kit work on earlier
> > vans).
> > Let me know if you are interested.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Ken Wilford
> > http://www.vanagain.com
> > John 3:16
> > Office (856)-765-1583
> > Shop (856)-327-0027
> > Fax   (856)-327-2242
> >
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