Date:         Thu, 22 Dec 2005 17:32:10 -0800
Reply-To:     David Marshall <mailinglist@FASTFORWARD.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Marshall <mailinglist@FASTFORWARD.CA>
Organization: Fast Forward Automotive
Subject:      Re: Speaking of rear disc brakes...
Comments: To: Tom Salicos <Tom@SALICOS.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <01bf01c60758$e8699d70$6500a8c0@omar>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

All this talk of rear disc brakes is crazy!  Fact, the front brakes of a
vehicle do about 60 to 70% of the stopping.  So if you want to stop faster
you really need to clamp on to the front disc better.  Right now I bet you
CAN'T lock up the front wheels as you don't have a big enough clamping area
and a big enough master cylinder to apply the necessary pressure.  Also, you
NEVER want the rear brakes to lock before the front brakes.  The issue with
the Small Car setup is that there is no brake proportioning valve included.
They say the rears never lock before the front... I would like to know how
they tested that?  Was it on loose gravel or an ice covered road or was it
just slamming the brakes on a tarmac road?  If your rear brakes lock before
the front brakes, the rear of the van will begin to slide and you will have
a messy situation on your hands.  You NEED a brake biasing valve in the
system if you go to rear discs!

I think everyone wants the rear brakes as they are sexy and give the van a
sense of "bling bling"   I think getting the rear drums media blasted and
then powder coated makes them look pretty sharp.  Installing some 280mm or
288mm Audi brakes on the front with a larger master cylinder will make the
van stop on a dime.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3

Internet          http://www.fastforward.ca
Email           sales@fastforward.ca

- Engine Conversions and Accessories for classic water-cooled Volkswagens
- Electrical harness fabrication and customization

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Tom Salicos
Sent: December 22, 2005 16:36
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Speaking of rear disc brakes...

Given a heaver rear end with a larger Subaru engine in a Syncro, and wanting
more stopping power, which is smarter to do first?

1) Upsize the now-stock front disc brakes or

2) Put discs on the rear?


Tom Salicos
'87 Syncro Westy EG-33