| Which Kit? |
| GoWesty |
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29% |
[ 13 ] |
| Burley |
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40% |
[ 18 ] |
| SmallCar |
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6% |
[ 3 ] |
| Other |
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22% |
[ 10 ] |
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| Total Votes : 44 |
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| Author |
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SurfaceRust
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2016
Posts: 160
Location: Los Angeles
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 Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 9:57 pm Post subject: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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A few weeks back I took a trip up to the Tioga Pass entrance of Yosemite in my Van (1987 Westfalia). For those who are unfamiliar, this is highest highway pass in California and has over 3,000ft of elevation change over a short distance. The van made it up ok (in a low gear) but on the way down I started noticing a burning smell, and pull off to the side of the road. Upon exiting the van, I quickly determined the smell was coming from my brakes, and they had overheated. They were smoking a bit as well. I've decided I probably should invest in a big brake kit, but which one should I get?
Relevant Van Details: 1987 Westfalia. 1.5" lift, 16" GoWesty Wheels, Bilstein XHD shocks. I carry a bit of extra weight due to a aux battery setup.
My options appear to be
GoWesty Bigger Brake kit and Hub Conversion for $865
Burley Motorsports kits which range from about $950 to $1,050
Smallcar Performance kit for $950 and looks to be the same as Burley
Other?
I may also overhaul the back with the Gowesty kit for $295 or another brand, but this is about front brakes!
What is everyone's experience and advice? |
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Zeitgeist 13
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 10:10 pm Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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Roll your own. Don't send them your hard earned cash, and definitely not SCP. Lots of options out there.
_________________
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'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
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y u rune klassik? |
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RoryGirl
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2016
Posts: 785
Location: WestWorld Nanaimo BC
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0cean
Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012
Posts: 1149
Location: California
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 10:28 pm Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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| Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
| Roll your own. Don't send them your hard earned cash, and definitely not SCP. Lots of options out there. |
Shouldn’t forget the Vanagon venders keep the community going. They depend on us and we depend on them.
_________________
I'm not a mechanic, I just play one on the internet
Cluster Rebuild:
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(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3) |
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Igeo
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2018
Posts: 888
Location: Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 6:05 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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I went with the small car kit. My experience is that the general stopping power is similar, but without the fade on the back side of Tioga.
_________________
1987 Westfalia 2.1 WBX Manual |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17155
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 6:28 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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| Igeo wrote: |
I went with the small car kit. My experience is that the general stopping power is similar, but without the fade on the back side of Tioga. |
Looks like a decent install. The hubs appear to have been machined. Could you elaborate on that? Also I can see some bolt nuts. Did these require modifying the upright caliper bolt holes?
To the poll, I’d choose a caliper I could purchase pads and rotors from any parts house vs having to go back to the original vendor if possible.
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
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vwhammer
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 998
Location: Boulder CO.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 7:37 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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Has anyone tried this kit?
Had I known this existed I might not have built my own set up. |
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Franklinstower
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2006
Posts: 1896
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 8:05 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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| vwhammer wrote: |
Has anyone tried this kit?
Had I known this existed I might not have built my own set up. |
Good luck getting this in the US, they won't ship to the US or Canada last I checked. options seem to be, know someone in Germany or try your luck at freight forwarding third party.
_________________
'89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug |
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bobbyblack 
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4351
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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Wowza, Epytec States side distributor? Me Like!
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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hdenter
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2008
Posts: 2754
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
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vwhammer
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 998
Location: Boulder CO.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 8:17 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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| Franklinstower wrote: |
Good luck getting this in the US, they won't ship to the US or Canada last I checked. options seem to be, know someone in Germany or try your luck at freight forwarding third party. |
Hmm I do have friends in both Leipzig and Frankfurt.
I should probably see how my brake set up works first.
I do like the idea of the Boxster calipers.
Whats weird is I was just looking at Boxster calipers yesterday for an Audi TT brake upgrade and found a killer deal on a pair. |
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Igeo
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2018
Posts: 888
Location: Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 8:51 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
| Igeo wrote: |
I went with the small car kit. My experience is that the general stopping power is similar, but without the fade on the back side of Tioga. |
Looks like a decent install. The hubs appear to have been machined. Could you elaborate on that? Also I can see some bolt nuts. Did these require modifying the upright caliper bolt holes?
To the poll, I’d choose a caliper I could purchase pads and rotors from any parts house vs having to go back to the original vendor if possible. |
Mark- This is the hub provided by Small Car. No modifications were needed. Kit is bolt on.
_________________
1987 Westfalia 2.1 WBX Manual |
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dgbeatty
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2006
Posts: 702
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 8:56 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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All of the chooses work well. IMHO ventilated disc (i use EBC slotted and dimpled) are mandatory as are quality ceramic pads (EBC Reds are my choice). I bought my calipers from Burley a decade ago. Whoever you choose be absolutely certain of the origin of the hubs as some are repurposed. A last note: if the disc has 10 holes for the studs it has been repurposed.
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Schau in das Buch |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6833
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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https://www.vw-t3-bus-shop.de/en/4-disc-breaks
Ships to the US.
I believe he uses the Epytec adapters in his kits if you've a hankering for the 312mm disc. He also has an 288mm kit.
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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you can buy brand new discs with 10 holes in them for stock Audis from the 90s'
Audi did this to minimize weight and heat transfer to the hub.
| dgbeatty wrote: |
| All of the chooses work well. IMHO ventilated disc (i use EBC slotted and dimpled) are mandatory as are quality ceramic pads (EBC Reds are my choice). I bought my calipers from Burley a decade ago. Whoever you choose be absolutely certain of the origin of the hubs as some are repurposed. A last note: if the disc has 10 holes for the studs it has been repurposed. |
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Gilmore55
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2016
Posts: 2
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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I'm running the SCP setup & am very pleased. I converted the front to studs instead of bolts-would anyone know what MB steel rim fits in the spare clamshell, and over the Big Brake kit so I don't have to carry xtra hardware?
Tks- |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 1:01 pm Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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Which SmallCar brakes, G57 or G60?
I have a 15 x 6.5 Mercedes steelie for my spare with a 195/70R15 (I think!) tire on it that fits in the clamshell and over my G57 brake calipers.
_________________
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si2t3m
Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2005
Posts: 78
Location: Quebec, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:12 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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| Franklinstower wrote: |
| vwhammer wrote: |
Has anyone tried this kit?
Had I known this existed I might not have built my own set up. |
Good luck getting this in the US, they won't ship to the US or Canada last I checked. options seem to be, know someone in Germany or try your luck at freight forwarding third party. |
Well I guess they do ship on this side of the pond.  Been looking at different options, picked up a set of 4 Boxster S calipers, Epytec brackets for the front, turned down discs from a 2wd and will be going with the Epytec kit for Boxster rear calipers and added VW caliper for the handbrake.
_________________
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90 Westy Syncro EJ25
90 Weinsburg Syncro EJ22
76 Westfalia EZ30D
72 911 Targa
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69 Ghia convertible
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wesitarz
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2012
Posts: 1491
Location: Victoria,B.C.Canada
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| Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 8:59 am Post subject: Re: Which Big Brake Kit? |
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Van Cafe (old) G-57 kit same as Burleys I think. Added brass bushing stiffener kit.
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