GoWesty rear discs -- experiences?

[oceanair]

Uh, hello people -- we are in the middle of a pandemic. I know your rear brake kits are expensive, but supply is more limited, shipping is more expensive and so is having employees coming into work.

Let's get serious here, while you are playing with extra toys on your van, they are dealing with a logistical reality and still asking their employees to work.

Grasp the situation at hand. They could keep their prices the same and just be closed for 6 months. Yes, they are sold out, yes the price went up by 15%, but keep your needs and price shock in reality.
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84 Vanagon Pop Top Conversion from Tin Top, 1970 Ghia - all sweet rides! Love em!
Previous: Green 72 Tin Top, White 72 Westy, Blue 64 Beetle, Yellow 71 Squareback, 2014 Jetta TDI Wagon - wish I could have them all back!

[Zeitgeist 13]

I develop my views based on patterns of behavior and not just single instances of an event. Patterns
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[MarkWard]

I am hesitant to use any parts or upgrades that are unique to one vendor only. The example of breaking down 2000 mile into BFE, while stock replacement parts maybe of suspect quality, they are available from numerous suppliers around the world. Freight might be killer, but it’s a global market as opposed to one supplier that might or might not have a replacement instock, discontinued, or open for business.
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☮️

[Sodo]

A $799 kit PLUS a full set of replacement wear items could add up less than the $949 Audi 200 calipers kit that I installed.

Replacement parts are an important factor but it didn't turn out to be of much benefit for the Girling 4143 kits :grumble:
Buying replacement parts today for the Girling 4143 tastes the same as 2009
......when the dilemma was "buy new Vanagon drums _or_ 'upgrade' to passenger car discs."

The T4 kits look much more promising, but totally agree standard replacement wear parts is important factor.
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'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

[Eric_Taylor]

I'm going to again say that I feel so lucky to have MULTIPLE vendors for parts for our vans, including companies willing to come up with kits that really work.

Would I be frustrated at a price jump? Sure, but as mentioned above, these are different times. Also, if they just came out at the current price, would anyone blink? Unlikely because they are STILL less than the competition.

It's downright amazing the support that exists for these quirky OLD vans that honestly should be worth about 1/4 of what they are. It's expensive to be a small company taking on higher volume and dealing with supply issues, employee issues, COVID issues, etc. If they jump the price to much, there won't be a market for it and that will correct itself. Right now it's still quite a bit less than the others, even during a crazy time in the world.

GoWesty may be a premium, but is it usually worth it? I sure think so. Try being an enthusiast for something smaller volume such as a porsche 914. You're stuck with NOS parts AT BEST at HIGH $$$$ and grateful to get them. We have a legit market here with competition and innovation. It's freaking awesome!

[vandroid]

[jimf909]

GW did just put all of their engines and transmissions on sale last week. Not a huge discount but a few hundred bucks off the price across the board.

This is a crazy time to be in business. My company is paying over 10,000 store employees to stay home while stores are closed. That's a cost of $7,000,000 per week (who know how long that can be sustained). Imagine being a small business with a small staff of employees. Shit's gotta be done to keep the business afloat while supporting employees. Price increases, price decreases, etc. are part of the matrix. I just bought a set of steel wheels from one of our vendors. They've been on my mind for a few years and this seems like a good time to get something I want in exchange for sending some cash to one of our vendors.

https://www.gowesty.com/search-results.php?search_phrase=Engine

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- Jim

[tristessa]

[Steve Arndt]

Are there any reports of how the parking brake holds on the Gowesty kit?
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Steve
Steve's 87 Syncro project

[kamzcab86]

[vandroid]

Yes. My wife has reported that when she launched our small boat two weeks ago, they held on the ramp well. I cannot wait to return from Europe to drive this van, it was being overhauled all winter.

[Sodo]

The real test is not at just after install,
nor by counting clicks on the parking brake handle ( 🤣🤣🤣the old way 🤣🤣🤣)

The real test is after the footbrake has polished the disc to a mirror finish and glazed the pads.

Perhaps after few months?
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'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

[Syncronoid]

Braking performance is very nice, I have yet to test e-brake on any significant slope yet.
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'90 Syncro Westy w/GW2.5L

[Abscate]

If they did a good copy of the T4 brake, my T4 holds a 4000# boat on a slopes launch ramp without engaging the AT pawl.
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.ssS!

[MrPolak]

I’m buying a rear disk brake kit from GoWesty because I will never have to replace rear disks based on normal rear brake wear expectations. Rear calipers are Eurovan, and that’s good enough for me and my Syncro. It beats dealing with crappy aftermarket rear drum shoes and brake cylinders.

[space]

[VicVan]

I have a question regarding non-stock brakes. One thing preventing me from pulling the trigger is availibility of parts.
If my brakes break down, I order a Vanagon part. Maybe not available right away, but it is clearly identified and will eventually make its way to me. On a custom or semi-custom system (Audi A4 caliper, modified caliper holder, VW Jetta disc (I'm just throwing random names out there, I haven't looked into the specifics), doesn't it make the van harder to fix, especially by a garage?
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[Syncronoid]

Yes.

[Steve M.]

What any owner should do if they have upgraded their vehicle with modifications to or replacing OEM parts is to keep a logbook in the vehicle that states what parts were used in the upgrade and what the parts are from - donor vehicle particulars/ Make / Model / Year and the exact part numbers that were used. This should include installation notes like torgue spec's and the like

Just like keeping the critical part numbers such as cv joints, spark plug type, distributor cap etc., etc. for road trips you as the mechanic/owner need it as well as down the road if you sell the vehicle. It is the cars history and should stay with the vehicle
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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.

[Aryana]

That also applies in regards to critical safety recalls. For example if you have a Subaru engine, not what year and model the donor car is from just in case something pops up.

Same goes for items like seats (Chrysler T&C seats for example) and other items that are grafted into your van.

Of course you will have to manually check on safety recalls for all those items since the NTSB will have no idea that you have parts from other vehicles installed in your Vanagon.