On 06/04/2012 09:38 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

"...sometimes things sure could be more fun n' friendly here. .."

Yup. But I reckon that I get a lot of advice for free so I'll do what I
can to avoid annoying folk.

"I run semi-metallic brake pads usually. And they do slow down a
significantly harder."

Do you have a brand/model that you like?

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.

> Re :
>> but after hearing so much about how wimpy the stock '84
>> brakes are, how swell the Big Brakes are, &c., &c., a fellow starts to
>> wonder if this isn't something he should look into before he plunges off
>> the road to certain death and becomes a headline.
>>
>> So my question is: will DOT4 brake fluid and attentive use of engine
>> drag via downshifting pretty much make bigger brakes a non-issue?
>
> It all depends on how you drive.
> I will agree that towing a medium heavy trailer can be rough on brakes,
> I have glazed my front pads towing a lot that way ..
> otherwise ..
> for descents and when strong braking is needed -
> an 84 Westy with auto trans should hold back pretty well in 2nd,
> and if it's a really steep long descent, say like the east side of
> McKenzie Pass west of you ..
> then I'd use 1st for a decent.
> Like 25 mph in 1st, use the brakes some, let 'em cool, use 'em again a
> little, repeat.
>
> I hesitate to even say anything as there are so many opinions and
> beliefs and sometimes things sure could be more fun n' friendly here. ..
> and......................, I run semi-metallic brake pads usually. And
> they do slow down a significantly harder.
> They DO NOT wear out my rotors faster. ( please, save the comments )
> But then, my brakes do not seem to wear much at all, ever, on any of my
> cars.
>
> One thing I do recommend ......use the brakes medium hard now and then.
> Like say 60 % of ability - now and then.
> Nothing extreme or harsh, just 'exercise' them a little.
> Avoid excessive very light braking, as that contributes to brake squeal IMO.
> And don't drive the snot out of them either.
> Just use 'em 'medium' ....with an intentional harder-than-usual
> application now and then.
>
> one reason my brakes may not wear much is I don't drive anywhere near
> any cars or trucks or vehicles ever.
> I've seen people drive so aggressively ..
> not kidding either ...that they have to use their brakes going Uphill at
> 70 plus mph because they are gaining so hard on the car/s in front of them.
> Totally wasteful and unnecessary of course.
>
> Check out the brake pad dust on the front wheels of any car or van ..
> if there's a lot of brake dust there..
> that means ..they usually use their brakes hard and a lot, they don't
> clean their wheels, and they don't rotate tires front to back.
> You can spot on unserviced car in a second that way.
>
> last line ...it's not just 'pushing down on the brake pedal'..
> ( I don't expect people to believe this much ) ..it's 'how' you apply
> the brakes...
> just like how you 'feel' a gearshift in nicely .......like with finesse
> - same thing applies to braking.
> I'm not so sure many people are that deeply tuned in though , but there
> is braking intelligently where it is not just pushing down on the pedal
> and watching the picture out the windshield change.
> Stop by, I'll demonstrate.
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com