Date:         Tue, 23 Nov 2004 23:25:52 +1300
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: Improved front brakes?
In-Reply-To:  <ccafde09041122185031cbb32b@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>I am in the UK and own two Vanagons.  One is a 1995 South African VW
>Caravelle with a 2.6 liter Audi-derived 5-cylinder motor and the larger
>front brakes, the other a 1985 German-made Vanagon Camper with standrad
>front brakes.
>
>The South African brakes are definitely better than those on the German
>Vanagon.  They are only slightly more powerful but suffer far less from
>brake fade on long descents.
>
>However, I am looking for a front brake setup that is significantly more
>powerful.  I wondered if anyone in the USA sells front brake kits for the
>Vanagon that offer more stopping power?

>1) early vans can upgrade with later style brakes
>2) SA big brakes available for both early & late vans. Both 2wd and Syncro.
>3) Several folks have upgraded to non-VW rotors and calipers. Some Porsche
>4) Eurovan (aka T4) rotors will fit over the VW removable hubs. Or cut
>your old rotors
>5) Some have used Maxima brakes as well.
>
>Bottomline is there are many brake upgrades. The most effective with
>minimum expense for early is the late brakes. For later vans, the best
>for the money is the SA Big Brakes. The sky is the limit if you don't
>factor cost in. Audi 200 turbo calipers can be fitted to.

For my SVX-powered supercharged Caravelle I was toying with the idea
of adapting current-model Toyota Supra or Nissan 300ZX brakes all
round... but the cost would likely be bad and performance an unknown.

In the end I opted for Porsche 993 brakes, using a Hansen kit from
Germany. Cost is frightening but hey, they only need to save a life
once to pay for themselves.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut