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Date:         Wed, 8 Jul 2009 10:11:13 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Big brake conversion
Comments: To: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@cfu.net>
In-Reply-To:  <20090708133734.42DF3233097@pop2.cfu.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Just some general comments on upgrading brakes...

Generally speaking, putting more stopping power on the rear wheels is a waste of time and money for most vehicles. The major portion of your braking is done with the front...The 'harder' the stop, the more the front end braking load is...Period. Your brakes are only effective as the traction of your tires...stomp down in a panic stop and the front of the van sinks, the rear rises. The weight transfers to the front wheels...Once your rear wheels are really 'un-weighted' by this forward weight transfer, they have no traction to contribute to braking at all. All the brake pad force and disc size in the world won't stop you any quicker without any traction. If you put big ole six piston Brembos on the front of a van you can probably lock up the rears even with the meager stock brakes back there...So why bother with *more* braking power? A locked up wheel is not a matter of degree..bigger won't lock it any more... All you do by putting bigger brakes at the rear is add unsprung weight and spend some money that may have been better used for ABS or something. Just my opinion, but supported by some research...If you want a visual of this 'front wheels do most of the braking' concept you should watch some Moto GP or road racing videos..Watch those guys going into a slow section with their back tires waving around above the pavement under hard braking.. Don Hanson On Wed, Jul 8, 2009 at 6:20 AM, Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@cfu.net>wrote:

> Mike and Crew: The statement that the Small Car Big Brake Kit has > Chinese rotors and calipers is false according to the ebay "ask > seller a question " response I got from Small Car a day or two > ago. The person responding said all parts were German-made. > > Mike, can you check with the person that told you about the Chinese > parts? Collectively, I think the List would like to find out the truth. > > I guess i have a hard time believing that he rear big brake kit is > $200 more than the front kit due to the additional cost of a rear > caliper set up for emergency brakes; that's like $100/side. There > must be a good reason though. > > DM&FS > > IO At 11:30 PM 6/30/2009, Mike Miller wrote: > >> Yeah what I've put out for brakes, pads, bolts and machining will be close >> to $600 if not more. But I got Brembo disks and the kit comes with Chinese >> made disks that are not good, or at least that's what has been reported to >> me. >> >> I'd drill the holes myself as was suggested but I think I'd be lucky if >> they >> would go on the van if I did. >> >> Mike >> >> >> On 6/30/09 7:16 PM, "Max Wellhouse" <dimwittedmoose@cfu.net> wrote: >> >> > FWIW I got a quote of $25 to get all 20 of my MB knock off alloy >> > wheel holes reamed out from 12mm to 9/16" by a local tooling >> > shop. You ARE talking about 4 holes getting drilled right? Maybe >> > there's welding involved who knows? >> > >> > For the time you've put into chasing down the new audi parts etc, and >> > the $130 for this trip to the machine shop, that $600 kit is sounding >> > better and better. >> > >> > YMMV >> > >> > >> > DM&FS >> > >> > At 07:42 PM 6/30/2009, Mike Miller wrote: >> >> Vanners, >> >> >> >> I'm in the final stages of converting my '87 syncro to Audi G60 brakes. >> >> >> >> Took the calipers to a machine shop to get the mounting holes >> rebored to the >> >> correct spacing. Guy says $130. >> >> >> >> This sound about right or am I missing something here? >> >> >> >> Mike >> > >> >


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