Date: Sun, 7 Mar 1999 10:15:24 -0800
Reply-To: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject: Re: Benefits of 15 " rims
In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990306155302.013af230@po-2.openmarket.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
There are supposed to be a few people in Vancouver with Audi 5000 quattro
disc brakes on the rear of their vans. I have not seen this, but I might
be getting a peek a some in the next couple of weeks. If I do I will report.
Personally the idea of Audi 5000 rear disc does not appeal to me for two
reasons. Only 30% of your breaking it done at the rear and have you ever
seen Volkswagen / Audi rear disc emergency brakes work for more than 1
year? The rachet style e-brake system is horrible! I just had to fix the
set on out 5000Q and it was a royal PITA.
Personally I would look into getting larger and vented front discs [south
africia] with some decent pads and perhaps some cross drilling or slotting
if you are doing a lot of braking and experiencing a lot of fade when the
brakes are hot.
I have cross drilled 8.9" front discs with some metalic pad on my Rabbit PU
with stock drum brakes on the rear. This truck can stop on a dime... it
almost stops too quickly as it is easy to lock the brakes when doing last
minute braking entering a very sharp corner. Before the front brake
upgrade the truck was pathetic when it came to stopping. Installing DECENT
same size brakes made all the difference in the world!
At 15:53 06/03/1999 -0500, Michael Sullivan wrote:
>Dear Ken,
>
>I'm actually interested in doing this. Seems to me that using Audi 4-wheel
>discs is the way to go. Shouldn't be too hard to do. We just need to find
>someone who has done this kind of thing before -- perhaps someone near
>Detlev? There are tons of "racer" mechanics out in California. Also, Helmut
>is trying to do almost the same thing to his van in Germany. Perhaps he can
>offer some advice?
>
>Once the "kit" has been worked out, I'm sure there would be at least 10
>list members who would opt for the "upgrade". The key thing being that most
>of the components MUST be off-the-shelf, stock parts (i.e. wheel bearings,
>rotors, calipers, pads). This is why I'd suggest an Audi-based brake system
>(although a Passat may do as well).
>
>Shall I be the guinea pig? This would be especially "do-able" if my car is
>idle while Detlev is busy installing a TDI engine in my car this September,
>which I'm seriously considering.
>
>Cheers,
>MJS
>
>At 07:56 AM 3/5/99 EST, KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:
>>If the Vanagon and Mercedes Benz bolt pattern are the same then has anyone
>>toyed around with the idea of useing Benz rear disc brakes on a Vanagon? I
>>have a couple of these at my local U-pull-it and I could get all the
parts for
>>a low fee.
>>Any ideas. This would be a great upgrade for the 5-cylinder conversion!
>>Ken Wilford
>>Van-Again
>>John 3:16
>>
>
>Michael J. Sullivan
>Director of Catalog Design
>Open Market, Inc.
>
>*********************************************
> phone: 781.359.7624
> work: http://www.openmarket.com
> scan tips: http://www.hsdesign.com/scanning
> vanagon: http://www.hsdesign.com/vanagon
>*********************************************
>
-- David Marshall - Vanagon List Admin - Quesnel, BC, Canada --
-- 78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Caddy, 87 Audi 5KSQ, 85 VW Cabriolet --
-- 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab, WANTED: VW / Bombardier Iltis --
-- David's Volkswagen Home Page http://www.volkswagen.org --
-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning http://www.fastforward.ca --
-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --
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