TheSamba.com :: View topic - DIY BIG brake kits

Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:24 pm

Went and had a look at some rear calipers, looks like the Allroad calipers i have are identical to most jetta/golf/passat/audi etc rears. I'm not interested in chasing part numbers, I'm sure someone here has some insight there. Should make finding calipers easier.

So I have a idea how many people are interested in rear or front caliper adapters please PM me your contact details & what you are interested in. More interest = cheaper parts so tell your friends....

Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:47 am

The best (cheapest) rear calipers are the Audi 5000 turbo. They were found on some later audi 100 non turbo models. As they work best with the emergency brake.

Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:58 am

I'd be interested in a rear disk conversion kit

Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:15 am

So there was a fair bit of interest in this stuff, sorry I haven't done the rears yet but will be in the spring. I have finished the design & testing for the G60 caliper adapters to fit A8 312mm rotors. Wanting to not have to machine or bend the adapter plates we ended up with a 3/8" adapter for the caliper and a .25" wheel spacer that has to go under the rotor. I'm going to cut them this week so if anyone wants a set of the caliper adapters please PM me for info pics etc.

Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:10 am

Sorry for the noobish questions.

So I buy the adapters and spacers from you then source some G80 calipers/pads and A8 Rotors bolt together slap them on and I am good to go?

Or do I need other parts/mods such as hubs/bolts from other kits?

Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:25 am

If you had a bone stock 1986 & up van you would need hubs, rotors, calipers, caliper adapters and in this case the rotor spacers.
The hubs you could have made from your old brake rotors which are rotrors and hubs in one. I have a drawing you can use to have a machinest turn them down for you.

Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:30 am

I would have been a yes but I finally decided to make my own.

There is so much talk about kits and then it seems it never goes anywhere.

If you make it, they will buy it.

Jeff

Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:51 am

I am absolutely ready to do a big brake kit for my '83.5 sunroof vanagon with a 2.2l engine and 16-inch wheels.

I would be interested in the caliper adapters for a larger size rotor than the South African ones; what have you done for hubs? Is it necessary to use the SA hubs, or can a Mercedes or Audi hub do the job? I already have a set of '89 spindles to work with.

Gary

Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:03 am

I got this set up a while back off a 90s something jetta

Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:31 am

windnsea wrote: I am absolutely ready to do a big brake kit for my '83.5 sunroof vanagon with a 2.2l engine and 16-inch wheels.

I would be interested in the caliper adapters for a larger size rotor than the South African ones; what have you done for hubs? Is it necessary to use the SA hubs, or can a Mercedes or Audi hub do the job? I already have a set of '89 spindles to work with.

Gary

I have gotten to making adpaters for Girling 60 calipers & 312mm A8 rotors. The problem is the G60 caliper availability. If I do more fronts before a rear setup it'll be to run the A8 rotors with the SA calipers as I'm sure there are a few of those kits out there.
PM me if you're interested, I'm cutting a few more next week.

Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:18 am

[/quote]
I have gotten to making adpaters for Girling 60 calipers & 312mm A8 rotors. The problem is the G60 caliper availability. If I do more fronts before a rear setup it'll be to run the A8 rotors with the SA calipers as I'm sure there are a few of those kits out there.
[/quote]

If your looking to make your own adapter and the only hold up is a caliper (g60 twin piston) I may be able to help.
The mid 90s thur early 00 lexus had a 2 piston front caliper. Shockingly close to the g60. The lines have the right hard line end and the length looks good as well.
The lexus rotor width was 24mm but the dia is smaller than 313. I have not looked at the mounting hole location but the 4piston lexus caliper can use one of the stock vw mounting holes. (im working on that setup for me)

jcl

Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:39 am

G-60 calipers are available at a parts place near me. Slider not
On line ..Autopartsonline.ca you can get calipers and slider seperately.
The caliper set up is not an issue.

Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:37 pm

Checking parts sources in Los Angeles this morning, I can get rebuilt calipers with sliders for $99 each ($39 rebuilt, $60 core) excluding pads. What I believe to be the 312 mm A8 rotors are the Zimmermann sports (cross drilled) for $84 each.

I still need an answer for the following 3 questions:

1. What hubs do I need to use? If SA hubs, where can you get these separately from the kits offered online?

2. Could you give me an exact year and Audi model number for the calipers?

3. Ditto for the A8 rotors, as they also list a 328 mm rotor and an even larger for a performance setup (are you using the A8 rotors for the V6 Audi A8?

Thanks in advance,

Gary

Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:22 pm

I am in need of some knowledge regarding use of Audi A4 calipers on my Syncro . I have a full set of S/A brakes short the Calipers , Are the Audi calipers close enough ,or do you have to re-locate the holes .
Any info would be appreciated.

Stacy

Thu May 21, 2009 11:23 am

Bump to wake this thread up... I made a major edit to the original post. Let me know what you think about it....
r

Thu May 21, 2009 12:24 pm

I don't understand why people are putting big brakes on these vehicles -- is it a lack of brake torque? or are the brakes overheating?

I wouldn't think there are too many people racing these things.

Thu May 21, 2009 12:51 pm

randywebb wrote: I don't understand why people are putting big brakes on these vehicles -- is it a lack of brake torque? or are the brakes overheating?

I wouldn't think there are too many people racing these things.

I don't think most of us are racing them, but we would like to be able to stop the damn thing. The factory brake system just isn't up to the task, or at least mine isn't. If I went through the front and rear and got everything up to it's absolute best, it might be better than it is currently, but if I'm going to spend the $$$ to do that, for not a whole lot more, I can upgrade to better than factory. I've got the parts to do the rear disc conversion, just need to get the machine work done. Then I'll save up the $$ to replace the front disc set-up with the larger rotor set-up.

My brake system, as it is today, will not lock up the wheels under a panic stop. To me that indicates a brake system not up to stopping the weight of the vehicle.

Thu May 21, 2009 1:01 pm

randywebb wrote: I don't understand why people are putting big brakes on these vehicles -- is it a lack of brake torque? or are the brakes overheating?

I wouldn't think there are too many people racing these things.

Big is relative. Big compared to stock, small compared to racing brakes. As it is now my van has the brakes of a Audi sedan, did they come with oversized brakes?

Just making the world a safer place 1 vanagon at a time.

Thu May 21, 2009 2:27 pm

"will not lock up the wheels under a panic stop"

OK, that means you either are not able to apply enough pressure to the calipers, or more likely, there is a lack of brake torque in the caliper/rotor system.

Thu May 21, 2009 3:47 pm

99 1999 Audi A8 Brake Rotor 3.7L V8 Front Zimmermann Cross Drilled Cross-Drilled
Retail Price: $172.89
Your Price: $98.95
Quantity:

Part Number: B7441-ZXD-N1000
Notes: 312x25mm w/ ATE Calipers
Product Remark: Cross-Drilled
Brand: Zimmermann Cross Drilled
Position: Front
Availability: In Stock

Shipping Options:
Ground, Overnight, 2 Day
Must be purchased in quantities of 2