can we improve brake system with few investments?

[tschroeder0]

and since the above question was originally for me I will elaborate.

My van is a standard trans, I have driven both through the mountains of Co. without any problem at all.
Again I believe that your driving style and how comfortable you are going down a pass will determine much of what happens and I left out how updated your suspension is too.

I have never used first gear to come down any pass ever, with the exception of deciding to downshift for a very sharp corner to, again, save my brakes and not heat them for no reason.

The commonality that the vans I have driven down passes is that the suspension on both are in great shape, this makes a big difference in how comfortable you feel when off the brakes and going through corners. I am not at all talking about racing down a pass but there are a lot of folks out there that are not comfortable at these times and they are on the brakes a lot when there is no need. This applies not just to vans but to all vehicles.

BTW on my van with stock brakes I can lock the wheels no problem, I tried it last night just to see...funny, I think I have only had reason to do this once in about 12 years of driving it.

I like the idea of upgrading, but for me this falls under the same heading as an engine swap...cool but not truly needed and no reason to be worried without it.
my 2 cents.

[maco70]

All the 4 folks who answered on my question about the kind of material for pads brake said
...
the semi-metallic is the best choice, and all of you convince me that's it's more than feasible to improve the brake with few investment.

Good arguments was, and i translate it in my own language : first of all, those vehicule, the vanagon, have pass all the tests to be accepted in Noth America by our legislations and they are not easy to pass through. Then, it's not a must to go with big brake.
Also, changing a part in the brake system mean also the review ALL the system because it's engineering design as a global system, which induced big cost.
Then, i will only change the rubber extremity of the 4 brakes by stainless steel DOT lines of my vanagon i will do, to improve the brake system.
Many thanks to all of you. It was a great opportunity to learn and a great post.
_________________
Martin from Montréal

1986 Vanagon GL full camper westfalia
(brown/tan interior)

[shadetreetim]