Date:         Mon, 4 Jun 2012 18:57:25 -0700
Reply-To:     Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET>
Subject:      Re: front brakes
Comments: To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <4FCD5BB6.9080400@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

I put in dual pot G 60 front disks [didn't go to the 310 mm disks like
BenT but then he's made of money, and brake parts] and put on Audi
5000 turbo rear disks.

Why? Well, here's my reasoning:

If I only screw up once, misjudge the steepness and/or length of a
grade, fail to downshift at the proper time, have too much weight in
the van, and really need those brakes, they've paid for themselves.

Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have
them.

YMMV

Mike in Marin


On Jun 4, 2012, at 6:07 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:

> On 06/04/2012 04:39 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>> Driving a vehicle in hilly territory requires some skill. While brake
>> upgrades and such buy some time or capacity any downhill
>> application of the
>> brakes for an extended period will become a problem.
>
> [description of techniques snipped for brevity]
>
> I do do what is suggested, such as downshifting my auto trans to hold
> back my speed, etc. I have never smelt hot brakes, not sure if this
> vehicle's brakes stink up the joint when when overheat so that might
> not
> mean much; but after hearing so much about how wimpy the stock '84
> brakes are, how swell the Big Brakes are, &c., &c., a fellow starts to
> wonder if this isn't something he should look into before he plunges
> off
> the road to certain death and becomes a headline.
>
> So my question is: will DOT4 brake fluid and attentive use of engine
> drag via downshifting pretty much make bigger brakes a non-issue?
>
> If the answer is "yes," then I've saved money for something more
> interesting.
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.