Brakes!!!!!

Scoobyboy1 · Thursday at 10:15 PM

Hi Guys and Gals,

I could do with changing my brakes on my 71 Danbury, as pads look a little low and discs could do with a change plus my right side caliper occasionally sticks so in need of a change, now do I go all out for a Willwood big brake kit or is there a cheaper alternative, or should I just get a standard caliper and upgrade discs and pads, any opinions or info that could help improve the brakes on my van.

creationblue · Friday at 12:17 PM

Cant you just give everything a clean and a paint, change the discs and pads, I would have thought if the calliper was sticking it would be the flexi that's fault maybe? Depends on the state of everything once cleaned and inspected. '71 use the smaller callers I believe, maybe see if you can utilise the later larger unit?

Bigger callipers usually require bigger discs and then you'll need bigger wheels........ Hopefully someone will follow up with their set-up

Scoobyboy1 · Friday at 2:47 PM

creationblue said:
once cleaned and inspected. '71 use the smaller callers I believe, maybe see if you can utilise the later larger unit?

Bigger callipers usually require bigger discs and then you'll need bigger wheels........ Hopefully someone will follow up with their set-up

I have 15"inch alloy wheels fitted if that helps, I ordered some discs and pads last year but time I got round to fit them, they didn't fit and was too late to send back, not sure if they where right ones for my van or if my van has upgraded calipers/discs/pads from a later model as my van seems like everything has been changed over the years and I end up buying the wrong stuff or it dont fit.

Anyone got any links to some decent discs/pads

K@rlos · Friday at 3:16 PM

In full working and serviceable order 71 onwards disc brakes are very capable!! Unless you’re running a really big motor then just fix what you have

Speak to EBC brakes and see if they have anything for stock vw front discs. I run their red stuff pads & vented discs in the Porsche / brembo setup on my bus and they are phenomenal! I put the green stuff pads in my missus polo and they are good upgrade too for not alot of money.

Scoobyboy1 · Friday at 3:46 PM

K@rlos said:
In full working and serviceable order 71 onwards disc brakes are very capable!! Unless you’re running a really big motor then just fix what you have

Speak to EBC brakes and see if they have anything for stock vw front discs. I run their red stuff pads & vented discs in the Porsche / brembo setup on my bus and they are phenomenal! I put the green stuff pads in my missus polo and they are good upgrade too for not alot of money.

Porsche/Brembo set up?? have you any photos as that's captured my curiosity!! Thanks for the reply.

K@rlos · Friday at 8:08 PM

Scoobyboy1 said:
Porsche/Brembo set up?? have you any photos as that's captured my curiosity!! Thanks for the reply.

I sure do

Scoobyboy1 · Friday at 9:22 PM

K@rlos said:
I sure do

They look lovely, if you don't mind how much we looking to do something like this??

p.s im telling my missus the idea come from you and we going to be eating beans on toast all month to pay for them.

K@rlos · Friday at 9:54 PM

Scoobyboy1 said:
They look lovely, if you don't mind how much we looking to do something like this??

p.s im telling my missus the idea come from you and we going to be eating beans on toast all month to pay for them.

Wouldn’t get much change out of a 2k these days I’d have thought. Not a bolt on affair either, I had to make caliper mounts and machine bearing spacers, I only went this route because I run a serious motor and drag race my bus. Go through the brakes on yours and you’ll be more than happy with the braking performance.

Scoobyboy1 · Saturday at 9:03 AM

K@rlos said:
Wouldn’t get much change out of a 2k these days I’d have thought. Not a bolt on affair either, I had to make caliper mounts and machine bearing spacers, I only went this route because I run a serious motor and drag race my bus. Go through the brakes on yours and you’ll be more than happy with the braking performance.

Thanks for the advice, most im pushing is 130bhp, which maybe a different set of discs and pads are needed. I do like the look of porsche calipers behind the wheels. Something to think about, but have got a expensive winter ahead to get the van up and running again for January.

67panel · Saturday at 9:51 AM

JK used to sell 71 to late bay spacers for the callipers but you could just fit late spindles (good time to fit drop spindles!!!)

Scoobyboy1 · Saturday at 10:09 AM

Already got drop spindles done by the previous owner, Ive got a feeling I have the later calipers as nothing for my van year fits my van, like I said previously i bought pads and discs for my 71 earlybay and nothing fit

K@rlos · Saturday at 11:08 AM

Scoobyboy1 said:
Already got drop spindles done by the previous owner, Ive got a feeling I have the later calipers as nothing for my van year fits my van, like I said previously i bought pads and discs for my 71 earlybay and nothing fit

Honestly mate if I was to do it again I’d get a complete wilwood kit from David Slack at PCD parts. He does a literally bolt on kit for all years of bus. CNC hubs, discs, caliper brackets, braided hoses, pads and 4 pot wilwood calipers. I’ve fitted a few kits to customers buses and I’d 100% go that route now. David is a diamond bloke, easy to deal with and incredibly helpful.

K@rlos · Saturday at 11:10 AM

andrewblackwell · Saturday at 1:13 PM

K@rlos said:
Honestly mate if I was to do it again I’d get a complete wilwood kit from David Slack at PCD parts. He does a literally bolt on kit for all years of bus. CNC hubs, discs, caliper brackets, braided hoses, pads and 4 pot wilwood calipers. I’ve fitted a few kits to customers buses and I’d 100% go that route now. David is a diamond bloke, easy to deal with and incredibly helpful.

I’d agree with that. I am shopping around and David & PCD Parts are some of the most helpful people I’ve come across.
Still saving up for ours, but quite sure this will be my choice.
Only query I have not had confirmed was one guy said the Slack/PCD Wilwood callipers have dirtsealed pistons, so better for UK road use, whereas Fellows kit was a race calliper, no dirt seals.
Dont know if that’s accurate, Fellows never got back to me, but another advantage of PCD if true.

Scoobyboy1 · Saturday at 3:14 PM

K@rlos said:
Honestly mate if I was to do it again I’d get a complete wilwood kit from David Slack at PCD parts. He does a literally bolt on kit for all years of bus. CNC hubs, discs, caliper brackets, braided hoses, pads and 4 pot wilwood calipers. I’ve fitted a few kits to customers buses and I’d 100% go that route now. David is a diamond bloke, easy to deal with and incredibly helpful.

Im looking at £1400 for the full kit. Thanks for the link to PCD Parts ive saved it, and if I have any money left over getting the rest of the parts for this engine, I think this is the way to go.

W1K1 · Sunday at 3:45 PM

Scoobyboy1 said:
Thanks for the advice, most im pushing is 130bhp, which maybe a different set of discs and pads are needed. I do like the look of porsche calipers behind the wheels. Something to think about, but have got an expensive winter ahead to get the van up and running again for January.

This has been discussed for years on the Samba, the 71 brake system is more than capable of stopping the bus, IF all the components are working properly, the brake booster can be an overlooked piece of the system. There are some who have swapped the booster for a 90’s Jetta to get a higher ratio boost on the brakes too

Brakes!!!!!

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