Vangon big brakes from Subaru/Audi

[Low-Pez]

Recently added large brakes to my Westy using Subaru Legacy dual piston calipers and Audi 11.3” dia rotors. Made a bracket to properly position the caliper. I have 16” CLK wheels but it should work with 15” wheels. Machined the hub to fit snug inside the rotor and self center. Will work with early Vanagon spindles with slight machining or grinding. Used readily available calipers and rotors. After some test driving they work great using the stock master cylinder.

_________________
Steve
36 Buick Coupe, 84 Westy, 84 Doka, 66 Nova SS
low-pez.com

[vwhammer]

Proper job.
I knew some of these Subaru caliper would be a good idea for a Vanagon swap.

They are usually a lot cheaper and a lot easier to come by.
They are also a lot less bulky where it matters the most to clear smaller wheels.
_________________
Pretty normal daily driver build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708418&highlight=

4x4 build
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/volkswagen-vanagon-4x4-conversion.162055/

[Steve M.]

Good job.
What year Subaru Legacy are the brake calipers?
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[Low-Pez]

Those in the picture are actually Forester but the 2000/2004 Legacy offers more clearance, using them in my Doka with early spindles.
_________________
Steve
36 Buick Coupe, 84 Westy, 84 Doka, 66 Nova SS
low-pez.com

[vandroid]

We own vans with the early suspension and later ones. If you make more adapters count us in for a few sets,. this options seems very good.

[Low-Pez]

I will be finishing the Doka brakes this week and test a little longer. Will move forward soon after some more test driving and let ypu know.
_________________
Steve
36 Buick Coupe, 84 Westy, 84 Doka, 66 Nova SS
low-pez.com

[hdenter]

Just as an FYI and not to complete, there is a BMW 7series caliper/MB 300td rotor that can bolt up without the need for an adapter plate. The rotor is basically the same size as the stock one, but it is vented. The caliper is a large 4 piston unit. The only machine work is to turn down the stock rotor to a hub and add a second set of holes to the hub to bolt the rotor to the back side of the hub. This set up fits inside stock wheels (one set of steel wheels I had bolted on needed slim spacers to clear the caliper) and it doesn't change the wheel track. The vents keep the rotors from warping and the larger pads grip hard! Much better braking than stock for early spindles.

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[Low-Pez]

That sounds like it works well but I was looking for something that works with stock parts with no modifications other than the initial setup.
_________________
Steve
36 Buick Coupe, 84 Westy, 84 Doka, 66 Nova SS
low-pez.com

[hdenter]

That's the case with this combo. Once you turn down the hub and add the mounting holes for the rotor, off the shelf MB rotors bolt on and off just as they do on the benz and the BMW calipers bolt up normal and change pads normal. '84 7series calipers and pads and '84 mb300td rotors.

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[Sodo]

Great option for those who are harvesting parts from a Subaru.
Subaru quality is good.
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[whafalia]

Regarding early spindles, I'm trying to find a thread I saw not long ago where a gentleman in Europe showed the machining required. It didn't seem to be much to be able to use an audi based kit. Anyone bookmark that?
_________________
84 westie 2.2 w/ digijet, AT

[Jake de Villiers]

[whafalia]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...t=italjohn

Thank you very much!
_________________
84 westie 2.2 w/ digijet, AT