--- Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> wrote:
> I was giving some thought on a drive home late Saturday to the
> issue of
> brakes. The few folks that have actually upgraded to the "big
> brake"
> kits haven't had really definitive comments on whether they
> allow you
> to brake "better. This is not what this posting is about
> however.

From a scientific point of view, the greater the distance from
venter of hub to the brake pad contact area, the greater the
leverage and the greater the effective braking force given same
amount of total friction between the pads and the rotors.
Another point to consider is MODULATION, since power is nothing
without control.

I still would like to see a braking distance test done between
two Vanagons with same equipment on board, same tires, totally
new braking systems with one having the SA brakes.

I will tell you that the '84 Westy I recently purchased has new
brakes in front and rear, and it does seem to stop better than
my '85.  This makes me think how many brake complaints are due
to vehicle's age and need of maintenance vs. supposed engineered
inadequacies of the braking system itself.  Car and Driver
tested a Vanagon Syncro Westfalia, a rather portly version of
our vehicles, in February 1986 and its braking was measured at a
very impressive 191 ft from 70 to 0 mph. As a comparison, the
Ford Expedition stopped from the same speed in over 200 feet
with ABS.

=====
Chris S.'85 Westy Camel -> http://www.knology.net/~vw/dadada.jpg'84 Westy Hershey -> http://www.knology.net/~vwghost/hershey/'01 NB TDI -> http://www.knology.net/~vw/Beetle.jpg