Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005 09:54:25 -0800
Reply-To: Jim Thompson <jim@KARMANNGHIA.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Thompson <jim@KARMANNGHIA.COM>
Subject: Re: where is the best buy for drums and rotors?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Keep in mind that ATE, since early last year has shifted a lotl of their
production of replacement OE parts from Germany to Italy. Many of the Brake
Rotor/Discs, Drums and other items I've been receiving from ATE in Europe
are still coming with those nice blue boxes that say "Made In Germany" but
with a "Made In Italy" Sticker plastered over or near that on the box.
Because outfits like ATE usually just "unbolt" their tooling and production
machines and move it to the new location to continue production makes what
Ken says is perfect sense. In the case of other German manufacturers such
as Zimmerman, Pagid, etc., I'm not yet aware if they've moved their
production elsewhere, but it's just a matter of time and economics before
they do. And my experience with these other OE suppliers is that their
specs are generally "spot on" - they have to be to continue to supply VAG
without raising their hackles. Now when comparing these to
Aftermarket/Non-OE supplied items, like George says, it's basically a
crapshoot (that would certainly apply to Jimmy Swaggert).
Myself, I run Repco/PBR Metallic Pads/ATE Italy Rotors on the front and
Raybestos Premium (so-called "Lifetime Warranty") Shoes/ATE Italy Rear
Drums/Varga Brazil Cylinders on the rear of my 84 Westy with no problems to
report for the past two years. I've been very happy with Repco/PBR Pads on
previous vehicles I've owned and have supplied the brand to others for close
to 28 years. Having used Varga Brazil Wheel & Master Cylinders on more VWs
than I can remember, I've only had 1 wheel cylinder fail on me in short
order and that was back in 82 or 83 on a 69 Campmobile.
Some people are adamant about buying their parts from the VW Dealer and feel
good about it and in many cases rightly so. But I bet some would be
surprised at where the source of the item in that fancy VAG box is from. Oh
well, it's their money.....
In addition, I have no use for Holy Water whatsoever, potable or not.
Sparkletts or Arrowhead for me.
Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
jim@karmannghia.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Wilford" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 5:49 AM
Subject: [SPAM] Re: where is the best buy for drums and rotors?
> I think we have decent deals on the OE parts. You can check out our
> website for details but we supply ATE rear brake parts (shoes, rear
> wheel cylinders and drums). These are original equipment supplier for VW.
>
> For the front of an 86-91 Vanagon Pagid is a great German brand and we
> also offer front rotors in Zimmerman (another OE supplier to VW).
> Please specify Pagid and Zimmerman brand when ordering and we will
> supply them (they cost a little more than PBR pads or Brembo rotors).
> For 80-85 Vanagons we can get ATE rotors and ATE pads for the front as
well.
>
> Just because it has the VW emblem on it doesn't make it any better in my
> experience. I don't believe in high priests, or blessings with holy
> water. If the same manufacturer is making it to the same specs, then
> the parts are the same. That is the case with these brake parts.
>
> If you think OE is so great just ask Eurovan owners how great it is when
> their 2003 EV are in need of new brake pads and rotors at 30k miles!
Yikes!
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>
> George Goff wrote:
>
> >In a message dated 2/16/05 3:56:19 PM, Dieselslave@WMCONNECT.COM writes:
> >
> ><< I am also thinking about just replacing shoes and pads and letting
the
> >rotors and drums slide till next time---any and all comments appreciated.
>>
> >
> >G.,
> >
> >If the rotors and drums are not too chewed up, just replace the pads and
> >shoes for now. Then start saving for genuine VW replacements. As I have
written
> >before, I have years of experience in driving cars with 4-wheel discs and
I
> >have never found run-of-the-mill aftermarket pads and rotors to come
close to
> >the factory parts.
> >
> >I'm not sure what the Vanagon Bentley says about the matter, but the
Volvo
> >factory manual says to simply replace the pads unless the disc has
grooves
> >deeper than 0.015" (I think) or is thinner than the minimum limit.
Should those
> >specs be exceeded, the rotor is to be replaced, not resurfaced. A
similar
> >procedure has been described by Doktor Tim, a List notable of sorts, at:
> >
> >http://vw.upnorth.net/Deutche-Methode---Brakes75.htm
> >
> >Read it, it might help you decide what to do.
> >
> >If you are looking for the "best buy", you have to first define the term.
It
> >seems to me that the "best buy" should be the best value which seldom is
the
> >best price. I have used Brembo rotors on two different cars and as
> >beautifully finished as they were, they were also utter disappointments.
On a Syncro of
> >mine, they rusted so severely that they had to be changed with the pads
and
> >also the exfoliated rust wedged them SOLIDLY to the hub. No small
> >complication, that. On another car, the Brembo rotors were the source of
squealing (and
> >overheating) which was only cured by replacing them with factory items.
> >
> >While I do have a pair of German-made rotors branded Zimmermann in my
parts
> >horde, I have not tried them yet and until I do, my advice is to look to
> >factory parts and to cultivate a friendly relationship with a dealer
parts guy.
> >
> >George
> >
> >
> >
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