TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Jul 03, 2014 6:44 pm

hello all.

I have the SA big brake kit on my rig and it's been on for several months now...maybe 5-6 ?

anyway, I haven't noticed any poor performance, they feel fine.

however... I happen to notice this very odd pad wear. :shock: WTF ?

I pressed the pedal while leaning out my door to see if they lean flat to the rotor and indeed, they do NOT.
pressing on the pedal does not close up this huge wedge gap...?!?
what could cause this ? this gap is on both sides of the vehicle.
anyone seen this before ? I just noticed it yesterday.
the brakes feel the same now as they day I got them on.

what are the best brake pads to replace these with ? opinions=can of worms but I just want to ask.

Thu Jul 03, 2014 7:33 pm

Nothing wrong with it. That's the way the pads are made, with a wedge in the pad material. Not sure why they do it, but it is very common.

Thu Jul 03, 2014 7:48 pm

really ?!? I've never seen a pad like that ever. granted I'm not a mechanic, but I'd swear the pads were flat when they were new.

I don't get how a big lack of pad contact would be a good thing.

if this is something done on purpose and I just didn't notice the wedge shape on the pads, maybe someone does know and can chime in as to the function ?

thanks for the reply xooOOoox

Thu Jul 03, 2014 8:55 pm

Just an FYI, those are not SA brakes, they are the Audi/Eurospec kits that VC sells (and GW used to).

Is the wedge from top to bottom or from edge to center? Top to bottom is NOT normal, edge to center MIGHT be normal.

Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:01 pm

well I bought them specifically for the SA hubs which give you a lower ET for wheel options rather than the cut down vanagon hub others use which push push a wheel out further.

the hubs were defiantly not like my old rotors. so regardless of the rotors or calipers, I got the kit for the hubs.

Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:07 pm

The hubs are SA, used with the Eurospec and the actual SA brakes (and now the GW in-house kit).

The Smallcar and some homebrew kits use cut down rotors for hubs.

But back to the issue, where is the gap? It looks like just the leading and trailing edges of the pads are clipped, which is fairly common - just google image "brake pads" and you will see what I mean.

Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:38 pm

I do see... I see a few pads like this but lots without a bevel on the edge too.
so, I guess I've just never noticed this before..

a bevel on the pad edge would defiantly create the appearance the pad is just barely grabbing by the center of the rotor.

I went out and stuck a weld rod into that wedge shaped shadow that looks like uneven pad wear and your right. it's just a short bevel like you said.

like I said I wanted those SA hubs for the shorter wheel mounting surface and the SA hubs are steel and not iron like the original rotor/hubs.

thanks ! :)

Fri Jul 04, 2014 4:46 am

FYI anyone with the SA front vented brake kit:

I recently tried to get some new rotors for my 1995 2.6i Microbus before going on vacation, it turns out that Classic Parts in Germany carry stock of them and are prepared to sell spares, not just whole kits though VW Heritage (they are a unique part that does not cross reference to anything in Europe: 22S 615 301) but further enquiry showed up only ONE rotor on the shelf in Hannover. Great.

The rotor is ~260mm dia, 22mm thick, and ~47mm tall from back of braking surface to the wheel mounting face.

The pads are the most common 1980's F0RD car type, fitted to the Escort, Sierra (Taunus?) and Granada in Europe. All the same.

Very very similar to these but note the different height (pardon the link, not trying to sell anything, just for info) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-GRANADA-MK4-POST-19...4897.l5658

Fri Jul 04, 2014 6:48 am

xoo00oox wrote: Nothing wrong with it. That's the way the pads are made, with a wedge in the pad material. Not sure why they do it, but it is very common.

The chamfer on the pads is to help reduce noise. I do this on pads that do not automatically come that way for the same reason. And just in case anyone was wondering, there is no loss of brake torque with the reduced pad area, so adding the chamfer has no effect on stopping performance.

As for the commonly called "SA" hubs that come with the Eurospec kits and the GW Bigger Brake kits, it is my understanding and experience that these are not actually from SA, but rather "overseas" copies of the original SA hubs.
When you get to looking at the lack of quality and attention to detail that these hubs have, its pretty obvious that there is no way that they are an OE part. I have seen chunks missing, studs pressed in crooked, studs not pressed in all the way, lack of stud classification on the heads of the studs, areas where the pressed in studs pooched out the sides crudely hand ground, etc. In other words, common "overseas" copy type problems/exhibits.

Fri Jul 04, 2014 8:09 am

I agree with Christopher, there are SA hubs and some cheapo copies floating around.

I too chamfer pads when drilled and slotted rotors are used.