Van Cafe front big brake kit - looking for reviews

[dogcoves]

Its a 87 Westy 2wd, with one month old HD bilstein shocks, plus it is happening on both front wheels and start the minute I left the shop that installed the brakes. Just to make sure it isn't my mechanics fault I took it to my friends shop who works on only 2000 and up VWs and Audis--so he's very familiar with these brakes. He didn't see any thing wrong with my mechanics intallation but thought maybe the springs provided were to weak. I'm taking it back to my mechanic on Monday since he bought the VC kit from Peter.
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Current VW: 1987 Westfalia

My Past Volkswagens:
1958 karmann ghia
1963 Beetle
1963 Westfalia
1966 Westfalia
1970 Beetle
1970 Westfalia

[edgood1]

[insyncro]

It is the brakes and many people with these same kits are having the same issues.

Please make the vendor you purchased them from aware of this.

VC and GW both sell this kit.

[Phishman068]

It's "POSSIBLY" just bad timing and you blew a shock or something,
But that clunking sounds pretty funky to me and definately is unacceptable. If your mechanic installed the components and can't find the clunk, there may be a defective part.

Is this a 2wd or Syncro?
If 2wd I'd say your wheel bearings need to be tightened up, if syncro i'd say you blew a CV. But still, odd.

[dogcoves]

My ride was quiet, as far as a Westy goes, before the Big Brakes. Big Brakes were the only thing I changed plus if I put my head out the window I can hear the clucking coming directly from the front wheels. I'll get my money back.
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Current VW: 1987 Westfalia

My Past Volkswagens:
1958 karmann ghia
1963 Beetle
1963 Westfalia
1966 Westfalia
1970 Beetle
1970 Westfalia

[Phishman068]

I can't see any possible way that that clunking is coming from your brakes.
If it is, you deserve money back.

[dogcoves]

The new VC brake kit I bought is so loud when you hit street cracks and potholes. Neither my mechanic nor my firend who works on new VWs can figure out why the rattle so much. They look installed correctly--the spring looks weaker than the older version, so it may be the spring. You can here them banging in my video. They work great but if you have a wife and kids like me they won't be riding with you anymore.

http://youtu.be/AafZp4mEQtA
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Current VW: 1987 Westfalia

My Past Volkswagens:
1958 karmann ghia
1963 Beetle
1963 Westfalia
1966 Westfalia
1970 Beetle
1970 Westfalia

[Dogpilot]

Like the evil Saruman, I live on top of a very high mountain, so brakes on the Syncro Westy get worked out with a high gravity gradient, and lower wind resistance from the thin air up here. The OG brakes where barely up to the task and would start to fade if you didn't pump them and use the tranny to engine brake. So you either had to creep down the hill or race down it. The Van Café did exactly what it said it would do, it increased the ability of the brakes to take heat. Mine is indeed more dust prone, but with all the cinder being spread due to all the snow, who can tell (Flagstaff got the second highest snowfall this year, after Valdez, Alaska and more than Buffalo!).

Mine was not $900, but rather $575 when I got it, and mine did include the hoses as well when I purchased it, then again I got mine a few years ago, when it was first offered. The kit took just over an hour to install and a bit of time to bleed the system again. It has been trouble free and frankly the van brakes like most other cars now. I no longer feel I need an anchor and 100' of line to stop. The Smallcar kit, if it is like the rear one I got, might not be a super direct bolt on. Mine had issues. It works fine now. It would seem, from other's comments, my rear e-brake works well. Others seem to have issues.

The Van Café kit is well thought out and had clear instructions that are easy to follow. Smallcar had none to speak of. Other's experiences may vary.
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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

[climberjohn]

I have LOTS of brake dust with my brannew Van CAfe big brake kit. Other than that, I like them just fine.
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

[aswah]

I got those too! They are great! My one complaint is that I have had to resurface the rotors twice in the last year. The last time, just a few days ago, the shop where I take my bus in Arcata said the rotors were made with lower quality metal and there are better brake pads. When I get some extra cash and/or need new rotors and brake pads I am gonna switch to the better Audi A4 parts.

ASWAH
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WIT WA DA DA (Peace and Unity)

Aswah, Lisa, Beaumont and Loose Lucy Too!

1989 Westy
2013 Jetta Sportswagon TDI

[rockfish]

I am very happy with the VC brakes. I echo the other comments about daily driving - no difference. But driving a fully loaded Westy, there is a huge difference - especially coming off steep mountain grades e.g., the Grapevine on I-5, Hwy-17 in either direction or the Cuesta Grade north of SB.

I've been told that the VC brake kit is equivalent to a Ford F150 brake set. As most of us already know - you have to remember that we do not have ABS braking systems, so you need to drive & brake like it was 1989!

I also like the fact that many of the VC brake parts (such as pads) can be found through a local Audi dealership or FLAPS.
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89 Westy
GW 2.5 5-speed trans

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden

[thummmper]

the v cafe kit is 900.00+ and the same kit from eurospec is 700.00+. my vcafe rotore came in eurospec boxes. the calipers bolt right on wothout the need for adapters. the eurospec kit throws in the fluid hoses also.
my main complaint is that the rotors dont register on center to the hubs vc supplied. so when I go left my right rotor rubs the inside of the caliper. the material missing from the hub, or the space between the hub and rotor on center is just small enough to be difficult to machine any type of ring to eliminate the clown-car effect my rotors are having. [or twilight zone effect.] yet another quality control problem related to the vanagon. makes me fall out of love a little.
the pedal feels nicer though.--dusty pads

[markz2004]

Is there a huge difference between the Van Cafe kit and the Small Car kit?

In comparing them, they seem very similar to me.

Thanks,
Mark
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87 Westy, 250k GW 2.4 - 2.0 , 16" wheels

[insyncro]

I have this Van Cafe front setup on a Syncro.
It is OK.
The Girling 60 based front kits have dual pistons and seem to perform better for me. I am running a larger diameter rotor with the Girling setups.

FYI, check to see if you 15s will fit with the VC kit bfore you buy.
I only run 16s when using any "big brake" front kits.

dylan

[pete000]

Expensive, but I am worth it...
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1990 Vanagon
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Koni Shocks
Witech Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats
JL Audio, Kenwood, Soundstream, MB Quart, Audiocontrol

[iceracer]

I may be wrong but I think they don't work on the 15in steelies. Heftysmurf: don't you have the 15in steelies?
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86 Syncro Wolfsburg edition
63 Beetle (The Iceracer)

[vermonterbpa]

Hey Heftysmurf...which 15" rims are you running? Just wondering, I buying some 15" SA steelies.
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'87 Syncro Weekender FAS TDI
'73 Squareback
'63 Sunroof Sedan
'73 Beetle vert...a long ways away.
'57 sedan...may look at the pieces forever...

[a914622]

yep
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87 gl powerd buy 2.5subaru
75 914 getting 2.2t subaru scratch that SVX subaru

[Franklinstower]

Cool,
thanks for the replys. I am not going to buy the VC kit but I am working with another user to machine the hubs, make the brackets etc. And then buy the calipers and rotors so it should by about $300 total. Just wanted to make sure the ATE Single Piston Caliper was up to the task and really improved the braking. The around town thing is not where I was looking for improvement, the loaded camping and need to stop is when I want to know that I can stop.

Paul
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'89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug
YITB

[HeftySmurf]

I have it on my van and its a big differnce but a super tight fit on 15" rims, but it works
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-Lorenzo
90 GL w/ Bostig