I'm a little hesitant to remove the springs though I imagine there's lots in
the archives about that.
I'll look into it.

Thanks!

Neil.

On 11/27/07, Mark Drillock <drillock@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Yes, the 85 front brakes and suspension will bolt up to the 81. If the
> 85 stuff is in decent shape I would swap it as a whole unit even,
> assuming the 85 has the later solid lower arms. The early 85 parts are
> the same ones as the 81 so in that case only swap if the 85 has better
> condition stuff, fairly likely.
>
> The 85 has the same brakes as the 81 in any case. Remember that the
> outer front wheel bearing is different beginning some time in 84, so
> swapping rotors or ordering replacement wheel bearings would require
> knowing which spindle it was to be used on and matching it up.
>
> I would swap the front springs too, for sure, along with the rears, even
> if you swap nothing else.
>
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> neil N wrote:
>
> > This is an interesting thread.
> > I still have my 85 parts van in the drive way.
> >
> > Is it worth pulling the front brakes and suspension for future spare
> parts?
> >
> > i.e. will the brake and suspension parts bolt up to my 81 Westy?
> >
> > I was going to just pull the steering rack as it looked the same as my
> 81
> > rack
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> > Neil (who clearly doesn't need to add work to his engine conversion
> > project!)
> >
> >
> >
> > On Nov 27, 2007 4:10 PM, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>You would have to get the steering knuckles off an '86 or newer model in
> >>order to use the newer brake rotors and calipers, David.
> >>
> >>Mike
> >>
> >>
> >>David Kao wrote:
> >>
> >>>Can it be done to put 86+ brake calipers and rotators on an earlier
> >>>1.9 Vanagons? Are the spindles compatible between the two?
> >>>
> >>>The front brake of my 84 and 83.5 have been a constant issue to me. I
> >>>found that I have to use only OEM pads for the front brake to work.
> >>
> >>Tried
> >>
> >>>many aftermaket pads with no luck. They are not even close to be usable
> >>>in my several attempts to use them. VW must have realized the brake
> >>
> >>issue
> >>
> >>>so they upgraded it for the 86+ models among other reasons.
> >>>
> >>>I am concerned that once VW dealers no longer carry them I would be
> >>>out of luck for good brake pads.
> >>>
> >>>David
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>--- Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>The main thing is to find one that has been loved enough to be worth
> >>>>committing yourself to and don't worry too much about the year.
> >>>>
> >>>>As Scott says, the later sliding door is a huge improvement that all
> 85
> >>>>and newer models have. The better parking brake was phased in during
> >>
> >>the
> >>
> >>>>85 model year and many 85s don't have it. Ditto for the plastic
> coolant
> >>>>pipes and cast front lower arms. At least the newer and much better
> >>>>parking brake can be easily added to earlier models.
> >>>>
> >>>>The 86+ has more powerful front brakes to go with the more powerful
> >>>>engine. Better caliper design, more pad area, larger effective
> diameter
> >>>>rotor and of greater thickness.
> >>>>
> >>>>The upgraded wiring found in 86+ is a more robust and versatile system
> >>>>though I'm not sure too many owners would notice the difference.
> >>>>
> >>>>Lots of small changes were made after 86 as well and the vehicle just
> >>>>got a little bit better year by year. I prefer 87 and later but 85 is
> a
> >>>>sweet spot in the value curve and 86 is only slightly different than
> >>
> >>87.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco"  (Bustorius) http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Engine swap beginings: http://musomuso.googlepages.com/home