Date:         Sat, 8 Oct 2005 15:12:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Big Brake Kits?
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2005100815443300@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hold on there a minute! There was only one thing in there that was right! You will need the post-'85 spindle/uprights. There isn't any difference in the spindles for PS / non-PS. You also do not need to worry about HAVING to change the lower contol arm for a post-'85. A later, cast arm is more desirable, but the old, stamped one is still functional. The upper control arms are no different for any year.
   If you decide to go to just later model, non-SA, brakes, that is easy. I have '91 uprights, calipers, and rotors on my '85, and they went right in. There was a noticable improvement immediately. The worst part was trying to get the new-style, nylon insert locknuts tightened up on the new upper ball joints and outer tie rod ends. Personally, I dislike them intensely. I like old-style castle nuts with cotter pins. The problem was that the taper was not tightened, and set in place yet. There was nothing to hold the threaded, stud part still while the nylon was "threaded" by tightening it down. I ended up using the old nuts to tighten the ball joints and tierod ends down, torqueing them, then removing the old nuts, and putting the new ones on.

Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
Sorry, I've not done this swap, butI do have some points for you to ponder.
First, since this is an early vanagon, I think you will have to swap
spindels from a late model vanagon(post 85). The brakes will attach to
these. When you do this, you will have to swap lower and upper control
arms , I believe.Your ride will improve 100 percent from this. Actually the
way I would do this is to rebuild my front end in the process w/all post 85
parts.Also, the late spindels are for powering steering only,I think, so a
power steering rack is needed too.PS lines and PS pump, ect.Smaller
steering wheel.yada yada yada.Hope I am wrong about these parts,but you
will stop sooner from the lighter wallet.