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Search preserved mailing-list messages and current email and website contributions. Current posts are searchable before weekly archival. Recovery gaps remain possible. Words are matched together; try fewer terms if needed.

Page 1+: 60 results shown for brakes.

Source-balanced relevance: matches from both collections are interleaved, with source dates breaking ties. Restoration time is not the original posting date.

  • Big Brakes (review)
    Historical mailing list - Kim Brennan
    Tue, 6 Jul 2004 00:28:23 -0400
    Okay, so now I've got a few hundred miles on my new Big Brakes. Do I notice a difference? Subtlely, yes. But I...
  • Brake Question
    Historical mailing list - Alan Gondry
    Mon, 5 Aug 2002 14:57:44 -0700
    ...I recently changed my front brakes and wheel bearings. Bleed all brakes. Now when I start my day (mostly backing out of the drive...
  • Dragging front brakes...why? how?
    Historical mailing list - jon
    Wed, 31 Mar 2004 15:12:23 -0800
    I have dragging front brakes on my somewhat recently purchased 82 Diesel Westy. The brakes have been dragging from the time I bought the...
  • Re: towing capacity with big brakes and turbo zetec engine
    Historical mailing list - Rob
    Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:01:35 -0700
    At 3/25/2012 06:34 PM, Don Hanson wrote: > I think you might want brakes on the trailer, too. Trailer brakes are good...
  • brakes "were adjusted"
    Historical mailing list - Gabriel Hourtouat
    Sun, 22 Jul 2012 01:37:48 -0400
    When I test drove my van, prior to purchase, the brakes felt a bit spongy. I offered to buy the van on condition that...
  • Re: Need for upgraded brakes for engine conversion
    Historical mailing list - John Reddick
    Sat, 14 Jul 2007 07:47:27 -0400
    ...Am I slamming big brakes, no way. If you want to keep your van for a long time, replacing the entire brakes system, including...
  • Re: what do I need for better brakes on 85
    Historical mailing list - Chris S
    Tue, 24 Sep 2019 10:40:38 -0400
    Is the effort high as in hard pedal? Is the pedal squishy? Have rear brakes been adjusted properly? Loosen hand brake cables fully, adjust...
  • Re: Dragging front brakes...why? how?
    Historical mailing list - Dennis Haynes
    Thu, 1 Apr 2004 02:40:12 -0500
    ...Dragging front brakes...why? how? I have dragging front brakes on my somewhat recently purchased 82 Diesel Westy. The brakes have been dragging from...
  • Re: front brakes
    Historical mailing list - Scott Daniel - Turbovans
    Mon, 4 Jun 2012 19:36:35 -0700
    re : > I was pumping the brakes all the way down and going slow. > Her front brakes were smoking when we got to the bottom...
  • Jaguar vs Passat brakes on Vanagon
    Historical mailing list - Chris S.
    Thu, 2 Feb 2012 19:45:37 -0500
    What's the list opinion on Jag brakes vs. Passat brakes on a Vanagon as an upgrade? Jaguar: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum...
  • Brakes - an idea?
    Historical mailing list - Geneva Saint-Amour
    Fri, 2 May 2014 15:20:40 -0700
    Still trouble with rear brakes. What are your thoughts on just switching to disc brakes? Sent from my electronic leash! Geneva Saint-Amour
  • Re: Need for upgraded brakes for engine conversion
    Historical mailing list - Andrew Grebneff
    Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:34:07 +1200
    ...The >brakes never faded. Not once. How fast were you going? I have to admit that I never faded the brakes on my vans...
  • forget the disk brakes?
    Historical mailing list - Timothy D.F. Maddox
    Tue, 2 Aug 94 22:54:54 EDT
    Well, after a couple of the responses I received concerning putting the disc brakes from my 71 on a 69 camper it sounds like...
  • Re: 90 Westy - Soft Brakes after driving with E-brake on for 30 miles
    Historical mailing list - Bob Stevens
    Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:13:42 -0600
    ...It their brakes were in original running order, have them drive in reverse rather briskly and apply the brakes. Do this 3-4 times...
  • Re: LT--Possible Source of Heavy Duty Brakes
    Historical mailing list - Benjamin Tan
    Mon, 27 Nov 2000 09:40:33 EST
    Drew, What's the difference between the 16" Syncro brakes vs. the 14" Syncros? How about the front brakes? BenT San Francisco
  • Re: Seeking Input - Big Disc Brakes & stock rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - Bob Donalds
    Mon, 5 Mar 2007 15:08:20 -0500
    Hi John I might suggest if the rear brakes got adjusted on a regular basis then you would not go threw pads as often...
  • Re: Improved front brakes?
    Historical mailing list - Andrew Grebneff
    Tue, 23 Nov 2004 23:25:52 +1300
    ...One is a 1995 South African VW >Caravelle with a 2.6 liter Audi-derived 5-cylinder motor and the larger >front brakes, the...
  • Re: front brakes
    Historical mailing list - Karl Wolz
    Mon, 4 Jun 2012 20:35:27 -0700
    I've put nearly a half million miles on my Westy with the original smaller brakes. Boiled my DOT 3 fluid once, about twenty...
  • Re: Big Brake options...Front Brakes do 80%
    Historical mailing list - Gene P
    Fri, 11 Jun 2021 11:45:01 -0700
    ...Rear brakes don’t just “add to the situation”, they are critical and that in practical terms is more obvious on motorcycles and bikes...
  • Re: pulsing rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - BenT Syncro
    Wed, 1 Aug 2007 14:49:41 -0700
    On 8/1/07, Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@yahoo.com> wrote: > > Most pulsating brakes are the front. They feel like they are the rear > brakes...
  • Re: pulsing rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - Roger Sisler
    Wed, 1 Aug 2007 16:48:24 -0400
    Most pulsating brakes are the front. They feel like they are the rear brakes. Most times it is warped rotors. My brakes pulsated and...
  • Re: Seeking Input - Big Disc Brakes & stock rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - Kim Brennan
    Mon, 5 Mar 2007 10:30:59 -0500
    ...Vanagons on the road > now with 15" front disc brakes and stock rear brakes. I don't > remember > any discussion of this creating any...
  • Re: Seeking Input - Big Disc Brakes & stock rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - rpc
    Mon, 5 Mar 2007 07:48:19 -0800
    In respect to balance between front and rear brakes, the front does the brunt of the work in any vehicle. It is unbalanced, learned...
  • Re: drum brakes
    Historical mailing list - Randy Bergum
    Mon, 4 Sep 2000 21:45:25 -0700
    ...Randy Bergum 1990 Carat with drum brakes mike miller wrote: > Oh wise list, > > Does anyone know why they still put drum brakes on cars...
  • spongie brakes
    Historical mailing list - Paul Gilland
    Fri, 15 Jun 2001 20:17:47 -0700
    Yesterday I hit the brakes hard in my 83.5 waterboxer Westie to avoid an accident. Thankfully, the accident was avoided and all is...
  • Brakes
    Historical mailing list - Matthew Libby & Denise DeWolfe
    Wed, 30 Aug 2000 18:02:15 -0500
    I had my brakes just done. New rear shoes, and turned drums. They still squeek, but work OK. Should just done brakes squeek, or...
  • Re: anyone done REAR DISCS?
    Historical mailing list - Kent Christensen
    Thu, 23 Dec 1999 11:53:18 -0700
    ...he had installed Ronal 16" rims and done a rear disc brake conversion with Audi 4000 Turbo front brakes Very few automotive applications have...
  • Re: Self adjusting rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - Aaron Reams
    Mon, 12 Aug 2002 20:41:54 -0700
    If I remember correctly the brakes self adjust when you engage the parking brake. It's been a little while though so I could...
  • Re: Rear disk brakes
    Historical mailing list - Kim Brennan
    Tue, 19 Oct 2004 22:03:57 -0400
    Spend money on the rear brakes. it is worth it in a Vanagon. You have no idea how much of a difference rear disk...
  • what do I need for better brakes on 85
    Historical mailing list - Spencer Allen
    Tue, 24 Sep 2019 09:24:39 -0500
    The original old brakes on my 85 westy seem to be fading more and making sudden stops kinda scary. The brakes front & rear have...
  • Re: Speaking of rear disc brakes...
    Historical mailing list - John Reddick
    Thu, 22 Dec 2005 22:50:48 -0500
    ...I did trash my clutch that day, but my brakes never faded. It is not a Ferrari, but the stock brakes, properly maintained, are...
  • 77 Westy - Uneven brakes on front end after sitting a year.
    Historical mailing list - courtney hook
    Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:25:30 -0600
    ...The brakes release fine,just the uneven braking up front. These are ATE brakes, not Girling. Would appreciate any experience people have had with...
  • '80 Westi- new brakes, now how to adjust them?
    Historical mailing list - phil hans
    Thu, 22 Aug 2002 23:01:30 -0700
    Hi Volks, I put in new rear brakes the other day, as well as a new master cylinder. It went OK, if you want...
  • Re: Big Brake options...Front Brakes do 80%
    Historical mailing list - Richard Koerner
    Fri, 11 Jun 2021 17:58:21 +0000
    In foggy memories from many decades ago in Physics class, it was clearly explained how the Front Brakes do about 80% or so of...
  • Re: Speaking of rear disc brakes...
    Historical mailing list - David Marshall
    Thu, 22 Dec 2005 17:32:10 -0800
    All this talk of rear disc brakes is crazy! Fact, the front brakes of a vehicle do about 60 to 70% of the stopping...
  • Re: Big Brake options...Front Brakes do 80%
    Historical mailing list - Bruce Todd
    Fri, 11 Jun 2021 11:46:21 -0700
    I wonder if we were always driving backwards ( a different paradigm here) whether the rear brakes would complete more of the overall braking percentage...
  • Re: brakes breaks
    Historical mailing list - wb6otg
    Wed, 18 Sep 2002 09:50:09 -0400
    ...This situation is helped by proper adjustment of the rear brakes (do the automatic adjusters ever work?), but even right after adjusting, the brakes...
  • Re: Parking brake pressure (was I've had it)
    Historical mailing list - David Beierl
    Sun, 4 Jul 2010 12:41:56 -0400
    At 08:35 AM 7/4/2010 Sunday, Dave Mcneely wrote: >Now, if drum brakes are less effective than disc brakes, why do so...
  • Re: front brakes
    Historical mailing list - Don Hanson
    Mon, 4 Jun 2012 22:16:23 -0700
    If you drive downhill in a manner consistent with your brakes, your load and the severity of the descent, big brakes are not "needed...
  • Re: Speaking of rear disc brakes...
    Historical mailing list - Jeffrey Schwaia
    Thu, 22 Dec 2005 18:22:09 -0800
    I've locked up the front brakes on several Vanagons (both early & late). Trust me, it can be done. All you need is some...
  • Brakes
    Historical mailing list - Michael T. DeLessio
    Tue, 16 Dec 1997 09:30:29 -0500
    I just wanted to say thanks to everyone that responded to my Brakes post. I bleed the brakes and the clutch slave cylinder twice...
  • Re: Why Bigger Brakes Was Cause of brake rotor warping
    Historical mailing list - Dave Mcneely
    Sun, 15 Sep 2013 14:24:51 -0500
    Jacobson Brakes, the company that made them popular. ---- Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM> wrote: > RE: Compression Braking devices or "Jake" Brakes > Trivia question for...
  • Re: Speaking of rear disc brakes...
    Historical mailing list - Andrew Grebneff
    Mon, 26 Dec 2005 17:12:08 +1300
    >I've locked up the front brakes on several Vanagons (both early & late). >Trust me, it can be done. I've locked the front...
  • Hot brakes!
    Historical mailing list - Vincent Dow
    Mon, 9 Apr 2018 16:08:20 +0000
    Was for billing through Malibu hills in my 1982 weary - had a sense they brakes were to bring very grabby.., Then. Had to push...
  • Brakes (Again!)
    Historical mailing list - Thom Fitzpatrick
    Sat, 20 Aug 1994 20:46:32 -0700 (PDT)
    Okay, When I last posted, I had bled the brakes (again) after replaceing two of the lines. The brakes worked well, but after a...
  • Re: front brakes
    Historical mailing list - Rocket J Squirrel
    Mon, 4 Jun 2012 18:07:02 -0700
    ...I have never smelt hot brakes, not sure if this vehicle's brakes stink up the joint when when overheat so that might not...
  • Re: Brakes (I'm concerned...)
    Historical mailing list - Doug Bensen
    Fri, 9 Jul 1999 15:51:36 -0400
    Alan, I wish I could remember where I read an article on anti-lock brakes. All I do remember is that the Vanagon is...
  • Re: [Syncro] Larger 303mm Syncro brakes
    Historical mailing list - Zeitgeist
    Wed, 4 Jun 2008 19:27:26 -0700
    ...http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_brakes/124_brakes.xls Casey '89 Bluestar '94 100CSQ Avant '87 300TD modified
  • Re: Seeking Input - Big Disc Brakes & stock rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - John Rodgers
    Mon, 5 Mar 2007 12:01:08 -0600
    ...So9 most of the braking load does occur on the front brakes. To me this is ONE of the obvious reasons for going to...
  • Re: Big Brake Kit $575
    Historical mailing list - Raimund Feussner
    Thu, 28 Oct 1999 13:08:42 +0200
    I havn�t spoken to this company (yet!), but I guess they changed front/rear prices of those Porsche brakes in their ad. I...
  • Re: Seeking Input - Big Disc Brakes & stock rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - ---------------------
    Mon, 5 Mar 2007 10:58:41 -0500
    ...In the Golf/Jetta line there is a mechanical proportioning valve that adjusts pressure to the rear brakes depending on the load. Messing with...
  • Re: Seeking Input - Big Disc Brakes & stock rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - Mike Collum
    Mon, 5 Mar 2007 11:02:02 -0500
    Should you lock up just the rear brakes, like trying to use just the emergency brake, for example, which could easily happen in wet...
  • Re: Speakin' of brakes
    Historical mailing list - Alistair Bell
    Thu, 19 Jan 1995 10:24:23 -0800 (PST)
    Steven, when you say the brakes are still not tight enough do you mean there is more pedal travel than you would like? Try...
  • Re: '68 front-end into '59 Bus? Disc brakes?
    Historical mailing list
    Sun, 12 May 1996 14:21:49 -0500 (EST)
    My 66 bus came with a 68 fornt end on it but it did not have disc brakes, however, i have been told it...
  • Vanagon Brakes
    Historical mailing list - Gary McEachern
    Wed, 13 Sep 2000 23:35:40 EDT
    ...Because of this I believe the front disc brakes provide the lions share of the braking force. I find the brakes on the Vanagon...
  • Re: I learned alot about my brakes today....
    Historical mailing list - Stuart MacMillan
    Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:52:19 -0700
    It's the rear brakes. Disk brakes "self adjust" because the rubber piston seal retracts just enough to pull the pads back a fraction...
  • Re: front brakes
    Historical mailing list - Dennis Haynes
    Tue, 5 Jun 2012 00:36:32 -0400
    If the brakes are working properly and you have good pads/shoes, even in stock form you should be able to lock them up...
  • Re: no VW sports cars? Brakes!
    Historical mailing list - Jack
    Sat, 29 May 2004 10:22:10 -0800
    Another attribute - Good Brakes! How can anyone call a car a sports car without good brakes? Let's suggest a qualification for the name...
  • Re: Speaking of rear disc brakes...
    Historical mailing list - Jonathan Farrugia
    Thu, 22 Dec 2005 22:21:43 -0500
    ...Speaking of rear disc brakes... > > > All this talk of rear disc brakes is crazy! Fact, the front brakes of a > vehicle do about 60...
  • Re: Seeking Input - Big Disc Brakes & stock rear brakes
    Historical mailing list - Sam Walters
    Mon, 5 Mar 2007 11:27:42 -0500
    ...lots of 15" disc brakes on vans in South Africa, I am sure that you are correct. I was just thinking of add-ons...