Here you go Don - one vendor's solution to the braking situation.  Small Car
in Tacoma.  Van-Cafe sells a front disc kit too.

http://www.smallcar.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=18

http://www.smallcar.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=71

On 7/16/07, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
>
> Dunno if the ABS subject has been "beaten to death" in the past, but I've
> not seen it mentioned in the past year since I've been on the list.
>   The ABS systems I have messed with are all German, from Porsche mostly,
> and they seem not too complex.  I don't think you could just bolt on an
> ABS
> system using the stock Vanagon systems,  though.
>   The street systems, they need hardware and a controller.  For practical
> applications, finding and fitting everything from a donar system might be
> the way to go, if ABS was what you're after.
>   ABS needs a wheel speed sensor at each wheel, the wiring to connect that
> to an ABS brain and a hydraulic controller to send the appropriate
> pressure
> changes into the wheels, as needed.
> A simplistic explanation of the system's working:  When the wheel speed
> sensors detect one wheel is turning at lesser speeds than the rest of
> them,
> it sends less brake pressure to the 'slower turning' or locked up wheel(s)
> Most street systems will do this and then return full braking pressure at
> many times per second...trying to get the sliding wheel to hook back
> up...much like manually (poedially(?) with your foot, anyhow) pumping the
> brakes as we learn to do on snowy or slick roads..That is where the buzzy
> or
> pulsing pedal feel comes when your ABS is called into play..
>   The hardware is not too complex, but it is "in harms way" down there
> near
> the road and inside the wheel wells, so the mounting and routing of the
> sensors needs to be done well.  That would be simple if you took the whole
> wheels, including backing plates with brackets and wiring looms from
> another
> car...maybe like and old 944 or a 928, an Audi or something..Get the brake
> rotors, the calipers and the backing plates, the brain and the
> controller..
>   Me, I  won't be messing with ABS for my brake upgrade..I got used to
> driving over the limit of traction without that system in my racecar and
> often used that fact to make passes on some of the more expensive racers
> who
> always relied on the ABS to control their traction during every corner..I
> digress..
>   Anyhow, if I were driving my Van in freeway conditions everyday, or on a
> busy aggressive driver commute, or if I lived at the top of a big long
> grade, the brake system in my 84 would be long gone..Its adequate for me,
> but just barely.  An upgrade is coming up my "to do" list as I cross off
> things...like my recent fuel line replacement(which I am re-doing
> tomorrow,
> having just read on my new hoses..."not for use with fuel injection")...
>   Don Hanson
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Zoltan" <zolo@foxinternet.net>
> To: "Don Hanson" <dhanson@GORGE.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 6:16 PM
> Subject: Re: Some brake tech/ideas (long)
>
>
> > If we install ABS, could we keep the same setup as is?
> > And what would it take to install ABS system?  I often see ABS blocks in
> a
> > wrecking yard and its cheap.  Would anyone know this?  Or is it subject
> that
> > has been beaten to death already?
> > Zoltan
> >
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com