Date:         Wed, 22 Aug 2001 19:02:22 -0700
Reply-To:     harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject:      Re: Reducing brake fade on '88 Westy?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Interesting gadget, brake temperature gauge, tells you the temperature
of your brake pads: http://www.raylin.com/

A couple of weeks ago, we were driving down a 25 mile long
 very steep dirt road by Hells Canyon, Eastern Oregon.
Mostly going 5 to 15 mph, and the auto tranny shifted in first gear.
I felt confident, since I had all new brakes, and they never seemed to fade.
On this endless downhill grade, I cycled the brakes as often as I could.
Even turned on the a/c to help slow down the heavily loaded westy.
Then I saw this sign, saying "For safety, pull over to let your brakes cool
down".
Pulled over, and wow, giant plume of smoke and burning smell behind us.
For a moment, thought the vanagon had caught on fire, but it was just the
brakes smoking like crazy. Let them cool down for 15 minutes, and then
continued. But despite the smoking, they never faded or felt spongy.
The best one can do is probably get the oem metallic brake pads, and
oem rear brake shoes. Make sure the drum and disk aren't worn or warped.
Also replace the rubber brake hoses. And of course, use DOT 4 brake fluid.
I'm glad I did all of that.
Harald
'90 westy
http://www.geocities.com/harald_nancy/index.htm

> On Wed, 22 Aug 2001 07:26:53 -0700 Shawn Wright <swright@SLS.BC.CA>
>  writes:
> Once again I encountered fairly serious brake fade driving behind
> some slowpokes coming down various passes on the Crowsnest Hwy. I
>  flushed the system 2 years ago with fresh DOT4 fluid, so I suppose
>  it's time to do this again. But since the van has only gone ~10k km
>  since the last fluid change, I'm not convinced this will help all
>  that much.
>  I know I do have slightly warped front rotors - could this lead to
>  more heat build-up? I'll need to pull them and either have them
>  turned, or replaced I guess. Cross drilled rotors seem pretty
>  expensive - what other options do I have for improved braking at low
 > cost? Are there specific brands of pads to look for that offer
>  better
>  fade resistance?
>  Thanks.
> Shawn Wright, I.T. Manager
 > Shawnigan Lake School
 > swright@SLS.bc.ca
 > http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
 > http://www.sls.bc.ca
 >