Date:         Sat, 21 Aug 2004 08:12:07 -0700
Reply-To:     "P. Stanhope" <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "P. Stanhope" <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Cheap disc brake upgrade for 81'-85' V'gons (a Long Report)
In-Reply-To:  <20040820001946.18446.qmail@web12202.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Three options for those of us that want to upgrade the
disc brakes on our older 81'-85'vanagons:

A. convert to 86'-91' disc brakes
B. convert to Audi 5000/Audi 100 disc brakes
C. convert to SA Big Brakes

Option "A" conversion requires new uprights, spindles,
calipers rotors and bearings. This option could be the
cheapest and parts easy to find becouse a lot of
people with 96'-91' vanagons convert to the SA Big
Break Kits, so they will have to sell their old brake
parts to us:) AND you don’t have to buy a set of
larger 15” rims just so you can fit the new brakes.
Performance on 86'-91' brakes is much better than the
older brakes(if you don’t believe me i can email you
some list info on the brake improvement that I’ve
archived from the Holy Vanagon List Archives) I don’t
think VW would redesign the brakes just to save on
production costs. Redesigning and retooling costs a
lot in itself. They did it to make the van safer AND
to save a little on production costs (they all do it)

Brake "B" Audi 5000 brakes will fit our 2wd vanagons
with some "simple" machine work (drill holes larger to
fit the Audi calipers) I like this option the most
because parts are everywhere and cheap if found used.
Performance is awesome, these brakes were used on Audi
Rally cars racing in Dakar Rally of Africa were they
not? this tells me they are awesome brakes for the
vanagon. Fastforward.ca has a link a conversion page
but this is for converting a Syncro to Audi 100/200
brakes, but the conversion is supposed to be similar,
anyone do this to a 2wd v'gon?

Brake "C." Yes The FAMOUS VW of South Africa big brake
kit. older 81-85' v'gons will need new "uprights"
spindles and that’s it i think. Uprights can be had
for $60-100 each or cheaper at the salvage yard.
Performance is awesome and the parts are new. Price is
not bad either, but not the cheapest. Brake pads are
expensive.

Conclusion?:
Me, i like the Audi 5000 option the best, these brakes
are all OVER the place, and brake pads can be
purchased anywhere. THe Big Brake kit parts can only
be found from few importers in the USA, that goes for
brake pads too. Good luck if VW of SA gets shut down
and files for chapter 11:) South Africa is not the
most stable of economies...this is another why i like
the Audi brake option the most The 86'-91' Brakes B+C
are vented rotors, which will be better option for
those who live in the hills. Brake A is not have
vented rotors but they are supposed to stay a lot
cooler than the 81'-85' brakes. The 86'-91'calipers
have fins to help dissipate heat.

Please do email me your thoughts and insults as im
still undecided, but i AM buying a set of 15” steel
wheels from VW of SA, so I prolly wont do option “A”
its Audi 5000 or SA Big Brakes for my 84' westy.

Cheers!



=====
Phil
84' Westy...Tiico'ed
00' Cannondale MTB
95' S9 Skateboard
04' New Balance 705 All Terrain's



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