Date:         Sun, 11 Jul 1999 14:05:56 EDT
Reply-To:     CarlMarin@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Carl Turner <CarlMarin@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Installing new brake pads in 90 Westy/Alternative Brand Pads?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

In a message dated 7/11/99 12:59:55 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

>
>  Date:    Sat, 10 Jul 1999 22:52:24 -0700
>  From:    Richard O'Halloran <ohalloran@IATRONET.NET>
>  Subject: Installing new brake pads in 90 Westy
>
>  I want to replace my front brake pads.  Both Bentley and Haynes say that I
>  must use NEW self locking bolts when refastening the brake caliper housing.
>  Is that true??  Is that what everyone does??  What about using some of that
>  Loctite stuff to hold the old ones in there.  I've seen it in various
>  strengths.  I think the medium strength was hand tool removable.  Could I
>  get away with just plain old anti-seize paste (I've got the Loctite).
>
>  Thanx for this
>
>  Rich
>  90 Westy
>
HI Rich,  Sounds like you are confusing the function of antiseize paste,
that's so you can get the fasteners off easy later!  Not good for suspension
and brake parts!

Locktite threadlocking liquid is not likely to be a good choice on brake
caliper parts as it "melts" and reliquifies at high temperature.  In fact,
the procedure to remove fasteners that have been secured with Loctite type
stuff is to heat the fastener up with a heat gun and remove.  Its not that
high of a temperature, somewhere between 200 and 300 degrees as I recall.
Your brake calipers will be hotter than that when you are using them hard.
You need mechanically locking nuts for high temp applications, usually a
deformed nut (kind of oval shaped threads or a deformed thread on the end).
Even the Nylon insert style of lock nut is limited to low temp(relatively
speaking) applications.  Would be worthless on an exhaust header for example.


If you can't find mechanical lock nuts, Ken Wilfy will describe how to drill
and do a proper aircraft style safety wire job ;^)

On the subject of Westy brakes, I did mine using the pads I got from Ron at
the Bus Depot.  Definitely bargain priced and they worked well for the first
couple of thousand miles but braking power is definitely weaker now,
especially noticeable when trying to haul my Westy barge down from speed with
a traveling load on board.  I suspect the economy pads would be fine on a
lighter passenger vanagon,  I'm thinking I'll go back and try the VW OEM
pads.  Any experience out there with better quality brand names I might try
other than the dealer part?

C Turner