ha ha!

Too true!

Neil.

On 7/16/07, Dave Vickery <davevickery@hotmail.com> wrote:
> All vanagons have anti-lock brakes.
>
>
> >From: Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
> >Reply-To: Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Re: Some brake tech/ideas (long)
> >Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:16:07 -0700
> >
> >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
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
> >To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 5:19 PM
> >Subject: Some brake tech/ideas (long)
> >
> >
> >>  Brakes are fairly straight forward..no pun intended.
> >>
> >>  The brakes on my 84 are in perfect shape, and they aren't very good
> >>brakes.  I know good brakes from my Porsche racing days.
> >>
> >>  I've had just one close call in my Van because of inadequate brakes, but
> >>I
> >>live in a rural area and drive "pretty far up the road" from my own
> >>vehicle,
> >>so I don't encounter many situations where inadequate brakes are going to
> >>kill me...but I will soon be changing to some better front ones, at least.
> >>
> >>  Here's the deal..Your brakes should be capable of locking up the wheels
> >>under hard braking.  Mine do not do that.  You can test your own brakes by
> >>finding a large deserted paved area and applying them hard, while going
> >>straight, to see if you can lock your front wheels..It should not hurt
> >>anything, but make sure your interior is free of loose objects..
> >>  .If you have ABS (dunno if Vans came so equipped) you should feel a
> >>buzzy,
> >>pulsey vibrating, telling you that your wheels are starting to slide...and
> >>the ABS IS working.
> >>   Over 80% of your braking force is supplied by the front brakes.  So if
> >>and when you find that yours are not capable of locking the front wheels
> >>at
> >>full application, that's where you should make changes.  Once your brakes
> >>are capable of making your wheels lock up, then you look towards your
> >>tires
> >>for better braking..
> >>   I have not yet looked to see which brakes might bolt right over to a
> >>vanagon, but in order to diminish the stopping distance for any vehicle, a
> >>few principles apply.  The first is traction.  If the traction you have
> >>can
> >>overcome the amount of braking force your brakes apply  (as is the case in
> >>my 84 van) you need to get more braking force.  That's done by increasing
> >>the friction on the brake rotor or increasing the rotor's diameter or a
> >>combo of both.
> >>  If you increase the friction on the rotor, you will create more
> >>heat..That
> >>will become a concern if you use max braking for a long period of time,
> >>but
> >>not so much if you just are forced to panic stop.  I would think there
> >>should be a better caliper for the front of the Vanagon, one capable of
> >>squeezing harder..that is one place to look.  Increasing the diameter of
> >>the
> >>brake rotors also should be do-able.  Or both.  Those little front brakes
> >>look more appropriate for something like a Rabbit than a heavy van..
> >>  Has anyone ever locked the front wheels of their van during an emergency
> >>stop in their van?  On dry pavement, of course..
> >>  Don Hanson
> >>
> >>
> >>--
> >>No virus found in this incoming message.
> >>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> >>Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.6/902 - Release Date: 7/15/2007
> >>2:21 PM
> >>
> >>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil