Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 13:09:50 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: I learned alot about my brakes today....
In-Reply-To: <989396.65423.qm@web82703.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
You're welcome, and thanks for the good wishes. I'm close to finishing
this Jetta engine conversion.
Re: new Vanagon brakes. Interesting to hear your impressions.
Especially of a new Vanagon. I guess for me, the real problem is brake
fade on hills. Or more accurately, I feel the brakes don't have great
stopping power at higher speeds. Regardless, the bottom line, IMHO, is
to drive so I won't need to make a panic stop at higher speeds.
Although the opinions would likely be quite subjective, it would be an
interesting thread to get impressions from owners who bought their
Vanagon new and what the brakes were like at time of purchase.
One thing I've learned about brake work. It's not as simple as one
would think to get the *whole* system up to par.
Like anything, it's the sum of the details that makes the big difference.
Cheers,
Neil.
On Tue, Jul 1, 2008 at 11:33 AM, David Kao <dtkao0205@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Neil, thanks for responding to my post. I hope Craig has got all the
> tips he needs to solve his brake problem. Vanagons need brake work
> more frequent than any other cars I ever owned. I am learning from
> many on this list and I should contribute sometimes in return.
> I think the brake system on our Vanagons is quite simple and we all
> should be able to do it right. But I think even it is a very simple
> brake system we don't always do it right.
>
> Before I concluded that it was the after market brake pads that I used
> to be the cause of the brake fade problem I did spent a lot of time
> checking for other possible causes. It wasn't heat because the brake
> faded right at the first pedal pressure in the morning. It wasn't
> adjustment of brake shes, wasn't brake fluid bleeding, wasn't master
> and slave cylinder issue either. When I put in OEM pads the fading
> disappeared instantly. This happened on both my Westy and GL. So it
> wasn't Vanagon weight issue either.
>
> I bought my 84 new. I remember deep in my brain that the first time
> I had to brake fast my daught fell off from her seat behind me. Then
> samething happened at least 3 or 4 more times before the first 25k
> miles passed. The original brake was fantastic. The brake has been
> replaced many times since then but it has never been the same ever.
> I probably need to replace the entire brake system with new OEM parts
> and do a precision adjustment to bring back the effectiveness of the
> original brake system.
>
> At least once a VW dealer tried to sell me a set of after market pads
> at much cheaper price. I refused it and they quickly changed it to a
> set of OEM. The OEM pads simply work best for me. I do wonder if anyone
> else experienced the same though.
>
> Does anyone sell OEM pads anywhere? I really do not like to depend on
> the dealers.
>
> BTW, I really enjoyed your posts, especially reading your progress of your
> engine conversion project. I wish I could put an inline-4 on my Westy too.
> I don't think I am ready for that but I am learning day by day and watch
> your messages. Thanks a lot for sharing. Good luck to your project.
>
> David
>
| 
