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Date:         Thu, 14 Sep 2000 11:11:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Catlin <SCatlin@REI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Catlin <SCatlin@REI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon Brakes

I forgot one thing. The previous comment about adjusting the brake bias valve is extremely unadvisable. Giving too much brake power to the rear will induce oversteer and could cause the rear to come loose. When your backend comes out you are risking a spin, and in a top heavy car such as the Vanagon, a possible roll. If your brake bias valve is bad, by all means replace it, but adjusting the brake bias should only be attempted on track cars, or by people with great know-how. That's just my opinion on bias, or I guess that's my biased opinion. Whatever.
- Scott


> ----------
> From:         Scott Catlin
> Reply To:     Scott Catlin
> Sent:         Thursday, September 14, 2000 10:58 AM
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      Re: Vanagon Brakes
>
> Your Vanagon dips under braking due to Newton's law of motion, I believe the first, that says an object in motion stays in motion until you hit the car in front of you, or something like that. Your brakes stop the wheels, but since the rest of the Vanagon is on squishy springs, it continues to travel forward until the springs and dampers compress enough to stop it's travel as well. If you have worn springs and dampers, replace them. If they are fine and you still want to eliminate the dip, get springs with higher spring rates and the dampers to accompany them.
>
> As for brakes, there are a few things you can do before you install bigger rotors, calipers, and all that. First, go to Midas and check the pad and rotor thickness. If they're too low, the pad is travelling too far to meet the rotor. If they are old they may be glazed or cracked, giving ineffective surface friction, or ineffective surface area, respectively. If you replace the pads, have the rotors turned to create a flat surface for the new pads to mate to and follow the correct procedure to break them in. And get GOOD PADS. There's no reason and no excuse to skimp on pads. Call some VW specialty shops, people who also work on VW aftermarket go-fast goodies, and see what they recommend.
>
> Secondly, since your brake system is based on pressure (your foot puts pressure on the pedal, which puts pressure on the fluid in the system, and since liquids don't compress, it puts pressure on your calipers to put pressure on your rotors) you may be losing that necessary pressure somewhere. While at Midas have them check for leaks where air can get into the system. Air is compressable, so some of your foot pressure is used to compress the air before it's used to compress the fluid in the system. Also, you probably have rubber brakelines, which flex, expand and stretch outward when pressure is applied from inside. You can install braided stainless brakelines which will not flex and will give you a much improved and firmer pedal feel. Under hard braking you can really tell they're working, and if your fluid is hot from stop and go traffic, your rubber lines will flex even more.
>
> Try those steps and see how you do. If you're still not satisfied, then get the bigger brakes.
> HTH - Scott
>
> > ----------
> > From:         Gary McEachern
> > Reply To:     Gary McEachern
> > Sent:         Wednesday, September 13, 2000 8:35 PM
> > To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject:      Vanagon Brakes
> >
> > Hello
> > When I brake hard, the front of the van drops down. Because of this I
> > believe the front disc brakes provide the lions share of the braking force.
> > I find the brakes on the Vanagon are lacking particularly given  the size
> > and weight of the vehicle. This is even more of an issue when travelling at
> > highway speed with 4-7 passengers!
> >
> > I know that larger front disc brakes have been made available in the past
> > from several list vendors. How well do these work?
> >
> > What about improving the rear brakes?
> >
> > Gary
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________________>
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>
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