What advantage is there with the cast vs the
stamped lower front control arms?

Robert

1982 Westfalia

--- 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.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>

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