GoWesty rear discs -- experiences?

[Surferboy120]

In case it helps I did this swap as well and the emergency brake holds my 19'
Ranger bass boat on steep ramps just fine. I was nervous the first few times so I made my wife sit in the driver seat while I unloaded. I got over that fast.

With my Subi 2.5 and subi 5 speed and now this rear brake upgrade I am beyond content with this van. I have put a good 4-5000 miles on the brakes now and they function as they should.

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[Abscate]

[4Gears4Tires]

I designed an app to do this because I wasn't impressed with any of the current offerings. I figure we all have our phones, it would be better to use our phones to log this data and then we can have it at all times as well. But it died at the design stage, if there any android developers out there that want to collaborate and make a better wrenching logbook, send me a PM and let's make it happen.

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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[Steve M.]

[Franklinstower]

[letsrig]

Can anyone tell me what the GW instructions mean when they talk about a "pin" in their assembly instructions? I do not see this 'pin' in my Bentley schematics (42.2, 42.4)

From GoWesty Instructions:
"Once you have secured the adaptor hardware, remove the original pivot pin from the drums. This pin is frequently seized and will require a torch, some rust cleaner and a hammer and drift punch, or some combination of these tools. Once you have freed the pin, clean it up and apply some anti-seize to pin before driving it back into the bearing housing from the backside with the adapter installled."
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'84 Westfalia - Bostig Conversion

[mackaymanx]

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[kamzcab86]

[letsrig]

I am in the middle of my GoWesty rear disc kit install and here are some highlights thus far.

Parking brake -
I have a stock BA6 Eberspacher Gas Heater. For those not familiar, it is quite a large camper heating system that feeds off the gas tank and is anchored under the belly of the camper. There is a large electrical connection to the BA6 heater that is in direct path of GoWesty's proprietary parking brake return spring. GoWesty has not encountered this issue in development and had no suggestions for a workaround. I am currently working on a solution to this. Any other BA6 owners who installed this kit?

Wheel stud length -
The addition of the rotor shortens the available length of the wheel studs. The shorter wheel studs make me nervous but there may be no scientific reason to be nervous. GoWesty claims all their wheels work fine and i have 16" GoWesty wheels purchased in 2012.

Slider door -
The addition of the disc rotors, as evident from less wheel stud available, pushes the wheels slightly out and my slider door now rubs the tire just enough to impede its progress to move freely but nothing major. Not sure if this will become more of an issue when camping on uneven ground. For reference, I have Toyo Open Country AT III tires in a 215 65/R16 (which I am loving). My alignment is good.

Rotors -
Both rotors are surprisingly untrue. Unless it is my hubs? I have to look more into this because i did not check how true the rotors were before putting them on. Unsurprisingly, i have brake pads rubbing that doesn't seem to go away. Squawking sounds emanate when starting to roll off intersections. Maybe i can push the pistons out more?

Instructions -
There are kit hardware quantity errors in the instructions that can cause some confusion as well as two different torque values listed for caliper bracket to adaptor.

Performance -
Power seems the same as the drum brakes but i have only driven enough to bed the pads. Parking brake not installed yet, so cannot report on its function yet. To be continued.
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'84 Westfalia - Bostig Conversion

[steveo9007]

I have just completed a rear disc conversion using the Epytec Adapters, and was pretty straight forward, i have my own write up on the vanagon section, my hubs are machined so i can use discs from other VW's instead of going to Gowesty to use theirs and who knows even if they will still be available in years to come, i have tested the handbrake so far on a 45 degree hill and it held all on its own without any issues. So a well worth upgrade i think.


[Moderator note: Please continue the discussion in the aforementioned write-up https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=753183 , so as not to take this thread about GoWesty's rear disc conversion kit off-topic.]
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85 Autosleeper KY Engine, ALD Box

[valvecovergasket]

[steveo9007]

[Franklinstower]

[Steve M.]

[valvecovergasket]

awesome! thanks guys
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MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com

gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread

[letsrig]

[kamzcab86]

[letsrig]