Date:         Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:31:15 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Big brake conversion
Comments: To: David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <677734.66132.qm@web82706.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The Passat rear calipers have very small cylinders and thin pads. That is
why they have little effect on brake fluid level as they wear. They have to
be turned and pushed in to reset the mechanical parking brake cam under the
pistons.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Kao
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 6:56 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Big brake conversion

Yes, better ride is what I have seen. Each time I step on the brake
the whole car sinks all together rather than the font sinks and the
rear rises. All 4 tries wear incredibly even is another. I have the 3rd
set of tires on the Passat now. The two previous set each was only
rotated once. The front tires wear very evenly from edge to center
just like rear tires. This of course has nothing to do with the brake
system. I rotated the tires just for the reason of tire rotation.
If I did not rotate the tires would have worn just about equally.

The Passat rear brake calipers are very different from those in the front.
The ones in the front are the common type. The ones in the rear have
self-adjust pistons. The brake fluid level remains almost constant
when the rear bake pads wear out. When new pads are put on the pistons
need to be reset. The pistons need to be turned while pressing down.
It is very hard to do. It is obvious that Passat brake is designed
to brake harder and wear more then the front.

David


--- On Wed, 7/8/09, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> I really can't see the reasoning behind giving
> the rears more braking
> power