> I have been shopping around for brake rebuild stuff and found a > wide range in brake cylinder (that's rear drum brakes) cost. Ron > at bus depot said 8.95. Europarts sold two : a German made for > $24 something and a Brazilian made for $13. What's up here? > Will me and my syncro notice a quality problem?
There are several brands of rear wheel cylinders for Vanagons out there, most of which are of good quality. The "original equipment" ones are by ATE and FAG. Note that I'm not calling them German; both ATE and FAG are now sourcing products from Italy, England, South America, and even the Far East. Most of the wheel cylinders I've seen from these manufacturers have been German or Italian, however. They are quite good quality. But then again, so are the Brazilian Vargas, which sell for about half the price (I usually sell them for $10.95, but recently for $8.95; see below). There are also Indian made ones from Bi-TV, which are extremely cheap; I haven't had enough direct experience with them to comment on their quality myself, but I have heard that even they are decent. The ones I have for $8.95 are from LPR Hydraulics in Italy. LPR is an original-equipment supplier to the likes of Mercedes, and is a very good product. I don't usually sell them because they are a bit pricy compared to Varga. But I have found a limited supply of LPR's for the rears of Vanagons at a really nice price (hence the $8.95 selling price), which makes them a really good deal. I have also been shipping Vargas for the same $8.95 price when between LPR shipments, but once my source for the LPR's permanently dries up, I'll stop doing that since frankly I'm not making much on them at that price. - Ron Salmon The Bus Depot http://www.busdepot.com (215) 234-VWVW |
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