Date:         Tue, 14 Sep 2004 19:45:36 +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: vanagon brake upgrades
In-Reply-To:  <20040913204529.56553.qmail@web11322.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>bigger motor = more speed -> need more stopping power
>
>Share your brake upgrades.
>
>Wondering what others are running?  front disk upgrades?  rear: drum
>to disk?  where can you get parts?  or is there an donor car that
>can give up their brakes with limited modifications?
>
>I want my want to stop faster than it accelerates!

Stopping IS acceleration!

The South African ventilated disc setup, from what I've heard on the
list, is probably not measurably better than the solid German brakes;
where it will be better will be on long steep downgrades or in
repeated hard stops, as on a racetrack.

Various folk are trying various rear-disc setups.

German listee Raimund Feussner has developed a kit using Audi bits.
The BenT one is doing something similar... don't know how far along
this is.

Rear discs probably do not work any better than decent drums, BUT
they are a LOT easier to work on! And there is no comparison in
appearance if you have alloy wheels with large openings.

For myself, I am having a supercharged (just located a Whipple
screw-type charger for a big discount) Subaru Alcyone SVX engine and
Porsche transmission fitted to my 84 Caravelle, so I decided to go
the whole hog and REALLY upgrade my brakes. Porsche 993 discs all
round, using Hansen Motorsport adaptors. Wheels are 18" alloys. It'll
accelerate back down from speed far faster than it gets up to speed!

Hmmm... wonder if it'll do front-wheelies under braking?
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut