Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (June 2004, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 21 Jun 2004 06:07:27 -0700
Reply-To:     "Chris S." <mrpolak@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Chris S." <mrpolak@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Brakes (upgraded and standard)
Comments: To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <E76F6359-C33E-11D8-8D2C-000A958E5A98@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

--- Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> wrote: > I was giving some thought on a drive home late Saturday to the > issue of > brakes. The few folks that have actually upgraded to the "big > brake" > kits haven't had really definitive comments on whether they > allow you > to brake "better. This is not what this posting is about > however.

From a scientific point of view, the greater the distance from venter of hub to the brake pad contact area, the greater the leverage and the greater the effective braking force given same amount of total friction between the pads and the rotors. Another point to consider is MODULATION, since power is nothing without control.

I still would like to see a braking distance test done between two Vanagons with same equipment on board, same tires, totally new braking systems with one having the SA brakes.

I will tell you that the '84 Westy I recently purchased has new brakes in front and rear, and it does seem to stop better than my '85. This makes me think how many brake complaints are due to vehicle's age and need of maintenance vs. supposed engineered inadequacies of the braking system itself. Car and Driver tested a Vanagon Syncro Westfalia, a rather portly version of our vehicles, in February 1986 and its braking was measured at a very impressive 191 ft from 70 to 0 mph. As a comparison, the Ford Expedition stopped from the same speed in over 200 feet with ABS.

===== Chris S.'85 Westy Camel -> http://www.knology.net/~vw/dadada.jpg'84 Westy Hershey -> http://www.knology.net/~vwghost/hershey/'01 NB TDI -> http://www.knology.net/~vw/Beetle.jpg


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.