i'm with jeff i've locked mine up on a 84 vanagon several times.  come try
driving in detroit.

jonathan

On Thu, 22 Dec 2005, Jeffrey Schwaia wrote:

> I've locked up the front brakes on several Vanagons (both early & late).
> Trust me, it can be done.  All you need is some idiot to pull out in front
> of you and a really big foot (I've got a size 14).
>
> Friday's almost here...
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of David Marshall
> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 5:32 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Speaking of rear disc brakes...
>
>
> All this talk of rear disc brakes is crazy!  Fact, the front brakes of a
> vehicle do about 60 to 70% of the stopping.  So if you want to stop faster
> you really need to clamp on to the front disc better.  Right now I bet you
> CAN'T lock up the front wheels as you don't have a big enough clamping area
> and a big enough master cylinder to apply the necessary pressure.  Also, you
> NEVER want the rear brakes to lock before the front brakes.  The issue with
> the Small Car setup is that there is no brake proportioning valve included.
> They say the rears never lock before the front... I would like to know how
> they tested that?  Was it on loose gravel or an ice covered road or was it
> just slamming the brakes on a tarmac road?  If your rear brakes lock before
> the front brakes, the rear of the van will begin to slide and you will have
> a messy situation on your hands.  You NEED a brake biasing valve in the
> system if you go to rear discs!
>
> I think everyone wants the rear brakes as they are sexy and give the van a
> sense of "bling bling"   I think getting the rear drums media blasted and
> then powder coated makes them look pretty sharp.  Installing some 280mm or
> 288mm Audi brakes on the front with a larger master cylinder will make the
> van stop on a dime.
>
> David Marshall
>
> Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
> 4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
> Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
>
> Internet          http://www.fastforward.ca
> Email           sales@fastforward.ca
>
> - Engine Conversions and Accessories for classic water-cooled Volkswagens
> - Electrical harness fabrication and customization
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Tom Salicos
> Sent: December 22, 2005 16:36
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Speaking of rear disc brakes...
>
> Given a heaver rear end with a larger Subaru engine in a Syncro, and wanting
> more stopping power, which is smarter to do first?
>
> 1) Upsize the now-stock front disc brakes or
>
> 2) Put discs on the rear?
>
>
> Tom Salicos
> '87 Syncro Westy EG-33
>
>
>