The campers and vans have the same maximum axle and gross vehicle weight
ratings. Put 7 adults in a van with a bunch of luggage and it can weigh as
much as a Westy.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
jondvo@GMAIL.COM
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2015 3:17 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 1981 Brake Caliper Decision

One of the issues with stock brakes is fade, especially with campers

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 23, 2015, at 9:52 AM, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks Jon.
>
> The wheel-tire cost is something to consider for sure and something I
> tend to forget about. How convenient.  ha ha.  ;) At this point, a
> local vendor has what I think are new, not remanufactured, newer style
> calipers. I installed a pair on my '88 That bus has better braking
> than my '81 and what I'd consider to be "normal" by modern standards.
>
> A *very* kind fellow Vanagon enthusiast set me up with known good
> newer style steering knuckles, calipers, lower arms etc. I'll install
> those along with the GW progressive springs I just received. For the
> foreseeable future, I'll keep the older brakes, in part because I want
> to see how much better I can make them using well documented info from
> this list. It's all been done before, but I'd like to learn more and
> improve what's there.
>
> To that end:
>
> - try to find pads that have more "bite" (grab better at first
> application)  Excessive dusting or accelerated rotor wear are not a
concern for me.
> - install the silencer shims I found at van-cafe.
>  These may help the pads wear evenly. The last set wore at an angle
> possibly due to lack of these shims?
> - install new shoes, shim out lower anchors as needed
> - rebuild a spare set of Girling calipers  with new pistons, seals.
>
> A recently replaced failing master cylinder has certainly improved the
> brakes.
>
> Neil.
>
>> On 7/23/15, Jon VO <jondvo@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Bigger brake kit means at least 15", most likely 16" wheels to clear
>> the calipers on any of the high quality kits; Small Car, GoWesty,
Van-Cafe, etc.
>> Also, with the 16" steel wheels, you will also need to add 10-12mm
>> spacers for clearance. These 10mm spacers will then require new
>> longer lug bolts to allow proper engagement. Alternately you could
>> opt for alloys, although they are 7" wide, a bit much for a 205R65-16
>> tire. However that is all that is available, at least easily found.
>> The wheel/tire packages sold by the the same parts vendors will clear
>> the brake kits just fine, but are pricey, $1K to $1.2K. I sue the
>> Nokian van tire, 205R65-16 or 215R65-16, the latter size will not fit
>> in my spare tire area up front, the 205 will, with some mods, and
>> only on a steel wheel (narrower). The 16" alloys with either tire
>> will require an external spare tire rack, due to the width & diameter, at
least on my van.
>> But you'll have nice brakes...
>> Jon
>>
>>>> On 5/17/2015 5:34 PM, Neil N wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> My choices:
>>>
>>> - upgrade steering knuckles, install a "Bigger Brake Kit"
>>> - upgrade steering knuckles, install new '86 + calipers etc.
>>> - rebuild a spare set of Girling calipers.
>>>
>>> Is rebuilding the old style calipers a waste of time?
>
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
>
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>
> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical
> <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>
>
> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>