This is exactly why I am stating that you DON'T want the rears to lock up
first - deadly dangerous in the wrong hands.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3

Internet: www.fastforward.ca   Email: sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775           FAX: (250) 992 1160

- Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
- Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation
- European Lighting for most Volkswagen models

Due to the large volume of email we receive,  PLEASE  include  previous
emails when responding.  This will allow us to read the complete dialogue in
one message and will result in quicker and more  accurate  responses.
  -----Original Message-----
  From: vw4x4@fyi.net [mailto:vw4x4@fyi.net]
  Sent: October 20, 2004 5:05 AM
  To: David Marshall
  Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
  Subject: Re: Rear disk brakes - proportioning valves?

  David Marshall wrote:

Small Car uses some pretty large discs for their conversion - bigger than
the Audi 5000S quattro I used to own.  Does their kit include a
proportioning valve so that you don't lock your rear brakes before the front
brakes or is this already built into the Vanagon, if so, is it adjustable?

Their kit looks good, and more is always better on the braking department,
but you want less on the rear than the front or at least the front locking
ALWAYS before the rear.  What is done to ensure this?
Dave, etal,
                  I reserve to comment on this for fear of more arguments,
but this is
  of extreme importance to balance  brakes.   The manufacture goes thru tons
of testing
  to ensure the most ideal setup.  A typical example of this is the VW
jetta.  The
  pass. load changes so dramatically, that on the newer vehicles, the
proportioning valve
  automatically adjust according to suspension height.
                         On any vehicle, If the front to rear do not
  have the exact amount of braking needed you have a lock up situation.  One
rear
  wheel locked up is bad, both rear wheels in a slight bend is devistationg.
Total
  control will be lost, unless you have a ton of driving experience at high
speed lock ups.
  fornt wheel lock ups mean you just go straight, but still the ideal
situation is all wheel
  get even braking and do not lock.  This situation is all most imposiible
to ensure,
  with changing conditions, and this is why ABS  is so popular.
              Bottom line, changing to custom brakes is a BIG waste of money
on the vanagon.
  Your better off, ensuring the condition of the stock setup.
                                                          Eric

Right now on my Syncro TriStar with the Audi 5000S/100/200 brakes on the
front [cross drilled and slotted with some PBR Metal Master pads] I can lock
the fronts with no problems.  Pedal feel is fantastic too.  A literal night
and day difference and well worth the time and money to do the upgrade!
Can't really see how much more rear discs will help the situation unless I
am carrying a lot of weight in back or hauling a trailer, but then I want to
*guarantee* that they will not lock up before the fronts or else I will be
doing a nice ballet dance on the highway, which isn't good.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3

http://www.fastforward.ca    mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775        FAX: (250) 992 1160

- Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
- Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation
- European Lighting for most Volkswagen models

Due to the large volume of email  we  receive,  PLEASE  include  previous
emails when responding.  This will allow us to read the complete dialogue
in one message and will result in quicker and more  accurate  responses.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Kim Brennan
Sent: October 19, 2004 7:04 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Rear disk brakes

Spend money on the rear brakes. it is worth it in a Vanagon. You have
no idea how much of a difference rear disk brakes make ON THE VANAGON
(other cars may be different). Yes, it is nice when trailering. It is
nice at other times as well.

On Oct 19, 2004, at 6:58 PM, David Marshall wrote:

  Why spend money on the rear brakes?  Make sure there are fresh shoes
there
and you are set.  70% of your braking is done at the front brakes -
this is
of course unless you do a lot of heavy trailer hauling.  Going to Audi
100