Haven't had to gear down yet, but I haven't gone over those two roads again either

________________________________
 From: Jeff Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net>
To: Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET> 
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2013 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: Why Bigger Brakes    Was Cause of brake rotor warping
 

Do you gear down and use engine braking in addition to using your regular breaks? Just a thought.

Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET> wrote:

>Twice I heated the brakes in my old two wheel drive westy to the point of Oh Dear!
>
>Coming down into Shelter Cove on the Lost Coast in CA. had to downshift to first to stop then pulled over and let the brakes cool and went� the rest of the way down in 1st.
>
>Coming over from Lake isabella in middle California to Highway 99. Smelled the brakes and pulled over immediately and let them cool down and went on much more slowly.
>
>Don't care what they cost [well I didn't at the time] nor how infrequently I need them. Once is more than enough.
>
>G 60s on the front
>Audi 5000 disks on the rear.
>
>and I'll still pull over and let them cool if I smell them or the pedal suddenly feels funny.
>
>JMO
>
>
>On Sep 13, 2013, at 11:18 AM, Don Hanson wrote:
>
>>� That is a good article.
>> 
>>� I have about 20 sets of trashed Big Red brake rotors sitting around my
>> shop from my Porsche racing days.�  When the holes cracked and connected in
>> these rotors it was time to put on a new set.�  Breaking in new pads was
>> important...
>> 
>> Finding the proper brake pad compound and understanding it, that too was
>> very important....The basics are that soft pads work better at lower temps
>> but wear out more quickly...Harder pads work better at higher temps (bigger
>> more consistent brake applications) but don't work very well at all when
>> they are below their best temperature range....Street pads...they are meant
>> to work best when dead cold...You get in the van and head out....then have
>> a panic stop...They work....Would not happen with a racing brake pad....On
>> the other hand, when you get your brake rotors glowing red from heat from
>> constant max braking....street pads are not going to stop you very well at
>> all........
>> 
>>� Our vans are really small trucks.�  They should probably be driven like
>> small trucks...somewhat carefully and with the vehicle weight in mind....I
>> bet a fully loaded Vanagon driven hard down a long grade with lots of tight
>> corners...that is nearly 5000lbs of weight, don't forget...even the best
>> Porsche Brembo brakes stuck on there would not be performing very well at
>> the bottom of that run.....
>> 
>>� I just drive mine like a small truck...conservatively when it comes to
>> brakes...� One or two hard stops in traffic?...normal stock brakes will
>> handle that...Pushing it at 90mph down Tioga Pass?.....No Vanagon Big Brake
>> kit is going to do that very well.
>>