Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 10:43:46 +1200
Reply-To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: Handling + Stopping?
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.2.20030624234015.0129b4f0@diversity.nmsrv.com>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii
>We have an 87 Westy, that now has a Tiico in it. Seems we're driving it
>much faster than we used to, with all the extra oomph of the I4.
>
>It sways, and leans. The tires (8ply 14") all have worn edges from the body
>roll after just 10,000 miles. It stops poorly, and has failed totally once
>by Orr Hot Springs. (What a steep road going in!)
>
>We are planning on the next phase of restoration, handling and brakes. Some
>questions:
>1. Do the big disc's work much better than drilled rotors?
>2. What about that rear disc brake setup at
>http://www.smallcar.com/brakekit.htm Seems with this kit, and vented front
>rotors, one would have a pretty strong brake package. What about that
>emergency brake system built into the caliper?
>3. What about H&R Springs. Anyone used them on a westy?
>4. Any such thing as anti-sway bars for a vanagon?
>5. If one wanted better performance on twisty mountain roads, would a
>hi-ply, low profile 16" tire be a better bet? Sure has been on our past
>regular cars.
Stiffer dampers (Bilsteins or Konis, though there have been reports
on the list of Bilsteins breaking) will help delay bodyroll. Combined
with Addco swaybars (sold by J C Penny) this should fix your problem
of sway, as well as making you more moose-safe.
Low-profile tires are the way to go for handling; on a van which is
rarely loaded car tires would work perfectly; vans carrying loads
would need tires designed for heavy cars eg mercedes S-class; Westies
may be too heavy even for these, you'd need to check. Also
low-profile tires are more prone to damage by curb-clipping
(pinching) or potholes.
Brakes... rear-engined Transporter brakes are poor at best. Yours
sound as though they faded. This may be poor pad material (were they
smoking & stinking?). First try fitting metallic pads such as Bendix
Metal King.
An "light" unloaded base Transporter or a Caravelle can handle
brilliantly, I'm told (have yet to experience it); they have track
days in Germany, and those guys go for it. A heavy camper will never
be fit for the racetrack (COG too high), but every improvement cannot
help but... help.
DON'T lower your van, unless you want poorer groundclearance. If you
stick to formed roads you may be OK, but if you go up tracks you
don't want to lose any height. You never know when you might need
every mm of clearance in an emergency! It may be possible to find
stiffer springs of more-or-less stock length... take a couple of old
VW springs (borrowed from another listee?) to a wrecking yard as
samples and rummage!
I am in the throes (hopefully) of selling my 16" Mercedes CLK alloys,
which I will replace with 17 or 18" alloys with 114.5mm PCD. I need
these larger wheels to fit the Porsche 993 brakes I intend installing
(using a Hansen adaptor kit). I already have new Konis, and will send
for swaybars later. With the 260hp Alcyone SVX engine and LSD Porsche
993 Turbo trans I have awaiting fitting (oh, yes, STILL), I want all
the handling I can get. But I will NOT lower the van, as I
occasionally go up 4WD tracks... hopefully the LSD will make up for
the lesser offroad ability of these stock later Type 2s.
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut
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