which big brake kit?

[targis58]

I d love to have better stopping power on my 90 westy. I see that go westy, van cafe, small car, bus depot sell big brake kits. are they all about the same or is one better than another? by the way I do have 15 inch south african rhein alloy wheels. my westy is 2 wheel drive. shoul I just upgrade front only or all four?

[WestyBob]

I don't think there is really an answer to this - everyone has a preference. I recently bought the VanCafe (Syncro.org) set, which is single piston, for my syncro westy. For my syncro passenger van, which I use for a daily driver and back/off roading I may go with the SmallCar dual piston set. I can't verify but heard the dual piston ones may be a little more reliable for heavier offroading.

One other thing to consider is easy access to parts. I believe both the SmallCar and VanCafe sets are Audi-based.

[WestyBob]

Forgot your last question .... I'd recommend you go with just the fronts first and see if you're satisfied. I am with mine. If you're doing some super gnarly offroading (and I suspect you're not), that may warrant the rears as well.


my westy is 2 wheel drive. shoul I just upgrade front only or all four?[/quote]

[camo westy]

Create a kit posts abound, creatize parts scrounging, creatize machining;

I figured my time is worth something and ordered the Van-Cafe kit. (I own a lathe/mill and know how to use them, again time is money)
All new parts, and they fit. I replaced the rear wheel cylinders, and drums/shoes along with the master cylinder at the same time. Firm pedal and NO brake fade at all.

Results are stopping power. Loaded for camping, pulling a trailer, my 85 Weekender stops fine from highway speed on real hills.

Real world;
Front van cafe brakes coupled with the stock rear brakes are pretty close to the same size/stopping power as a mid 90's 3/4 ton American pickup that has a gross wieght stopping power for 7500 pounds.
Sure rear discs might be nice or maybe just cool, the stock drums, are actually huge for a vehicle the gross wieght of a Vanagon.
If you want the rear discs, install them later.
A compromise is usually the best decision.

[vwjoel]

I just finished installing big brakes on my 84 Westy. I did a Subaru 6 cylinder last year and the brakes were definitely lacking. I used the 276mm front brakes from a 1990 Audi 200 with dual piston Girling calipers. From what I've read this is what Small car sells. There is a huge difference in stopping power. Now I at least have the option of locking the fronts. I may consider upgrading the rears as well to get better balance but my Westy is way safer than it was with just the fronts.

[Dogpilot]

Camo westy has nailed it. Yes what is your time worth? The Van Café kit is Audi based, fits, important point. The SmallCar rear kit is nice, but mine didn't fit without modification. Do the fronts, properly adjust the drums. See how you like it, then decide on the rear discs. Mine are cool and all that, I just wish they had fit out of the box. I hear they have been improved, but have not heard from anybody actually fitting a set of the 'improved' ones.
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[Broseph]

Van Cafe' rocks, bro. It is the parts mecca in the van mecca dude...Saint Cruz, CalifornI.A., where the VW Vans and Bugs still run wild and you have to lasso 'em and saddlebreak 'em. Peter runs a fine shop. Love my big brakes, and also picked up his rear stock drum brake replacement kit at a solid price.

Broseph
_________________
86' Vanagon Campah-maybe someday with a turbochargah

01' VW GTI with a turbochargah

My great grandfather came over on the boat from Germany my friends, and 60 years and a couple a wars fought by my Gramps and Papa later, I would be born a Rhode Islander. First itch for a VW van was at 19, but she didn't find me 'til I made 28. True story.

[rowan]

i got the small car front kit. it fits perfectly and has everything you need to do the kit. it does not come with any instructions so if you decide to use it you'll want to use 170 ft lbs. for the big nuts and bolts, 30 ft lbs. with blue thread lock for the carrier bolts. also, there is no place to put the brake line support that is screwed to the factory carrier since there is no similar place on the new carrier. i used cable ties on mine.

when i pointed this out to the small car folks i got the following reply "I also believed that we should include some kind of brackets to support that. I will talk to my boss to see if we can design a bracket that will support the line on the caliper carrier."

all-in-all i'm very satisfied with the small car kit and the customer support.

r

[J Charlton]

Is it necessary to change from the stock vanagon wheels in order to install a big brake kit?
_________________
NAHT hightop availability May 18 2023 -
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Future availability TBD : Springfield Mass. Staunton Va, Florida, Colorado, Grand Junction Co., SLC probably late 2024

[rowan]

the small car kit only fits some 15" and (all?) 16" wheels.

r

[Crughy]

Very likely. 15 or 16' almost compulsory for most kits.

You will have to check, it depends on each kit (they are not all the same).

Van Cafe and Small car kits need 15 or 16' wheels. They clearly mention it.

When purchasing wheels, some wheels with the wrong ET might not clear the new kit. Most should. But check it.

JP

[Tiiconaut]

[J Charlton]

[Dogpilot]

The subject of what wheels fit the brakes can be tricky. Some wheels may have the correct ET, but then, in the case of steel wheels, the welds can interfere on the inside flange with some of the brakes. You kind have have to do a trial fit.

As for the effectiveness in Florida, do you even need brakes there? I am puzzled by the addition of the emergency brake there. When I lived in Miami, I didn't use mine for something like 10 years or so. If you are in stop and go braking hard, you might notice it. I can stop shorter from 75 since the swap, but you are correct, lacking a g meter, how much is a thing of by the seat of my pants. I do go up and down at least 6,000' at a stretch here to get just about anywhere from here. We actually have hills out here, we are not a recently exposed reef. Having non-fading brakes on my loaded Syncro Westy is a good feeling.

If you ever take your Westy to the Tail of the Dragon, or other scenic curvy roads out east you will appreciate the change as well. If you stuck on Useless 1 in traffic, well; invest in XM or a good stereo, it would be a waste to go for the big brakes.
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[Tristar Eric]

Option #3, my kit. Porsche 993TT calipers, rotors. (big reds).

I replace the entire hub assy with mine. The bolt pattern is changed to Porsche 5x130mm. Min wheel size = 17" et 50

I have 2 kits in stock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka-7RZXaIsc
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Vanagon/Transporter flares here: www.terrawagen.com
[email protected]

[Crughy]

[Tiiconaut]

[volksdragonvw]

Hey Eric,

When are you gonna make some of those for Syncros?? I just finished a set of the Audi Turbo caliper carriers (ala Syncro.ca), but I really want Porsche pattern.

Rennie
86 Syncro
TDI dreamer

[Sodo]

[floggingmolly]