Disc brake front conversion is it worth it ?

[loweredlight]

Guys thinking about upgrading the front drums to discs, probably Futbus but before I do who's already done it and is it worth it? I've rebuilt my brakes alround so they are as good as they can be?

Comments please.

Thanks alot

 

[Graham L]

Definitely worth it, wouldn't run any other way now. It's not about your driving it's the idiots in front that change their mind.
Fitted futbus kits to last 3 buses and quite a few customers buses.
Fitted both the 14" & 15" kits.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AxlFoley]

I love my front disks (Porsche 944) and would never go back to drums. I have a futbus rear disk conversion and haven't had any problems with it, I would recommend the kits.

 

[StuF]

I have a CSP disk brake kit fitted and think it is excellent!

Gives me much more confidence over standard drums

 

[terrier man]

Here's my 2 pennies worth I was going to convert to disc's this year until I drove a Bus with them fitted (Futbus) was not that impressed
sure it pulled up quicker but required about the same amount of effort as my drums to do so, sure there was very little fade unlike drums but I'm use to that now. :lol:
Had a L.B 20 odd years ago with Disc's & servo, was never impressed with that either but the Mrs could stop it, just. :shock:
So I'm now sticking to stock if it was a daily or doing higher mileage maybe I would convert but would also fit a remote servo.
The problem with me is I don't like aftermarket products on my Bus & I don't lack confidence if my brakes, it only passed the MOT last week. :lol:
Plus I've saved a Grand. :shock:

 

[loweredlight]

Thanks for the comments guys, now that's made me think.

Graham hope your keeping well.

Dave

 

[Haveacamper]

my two pennies worth.

i've got 13" 4 pot porsche boxster S brakes up front and a disc conversion on the back.

when i first installed this i drove it without the servo connected and was surprised how much effort i still needed to stop the bus quickly. now i'm not saying that it was the same as the stock brakes, but it still took a fair amount of pedal force.

however, when i connected the servo up, this is when i benefited from having the discs.

personally, if i had the opportunity I would have liked to see how my original brakes would have handled with servo fitted. again, my bus is a crossover so i had discs as standard. but the mot man did tell me that my stock brakes were the best he had experienced on such an old vehicle

Nathan

 

[baj25]

I put CSP discs on the front of ours earlier this year. At first I wasn’t amazed by the difference and started thinking that 900 odd notes might have been better spent elsewhere, but as they have bedded in a bit I have found that I am much more confident on the road than I was. I have another car without servo, so I'm OK with the extra pedal force needed. I still wouldn’t say that it brakes like a modern car though, but I do feel I’ve got a much better chance of pulling up quickly than I had before. HTH, Bri

 

[terrier man]

my two pennies worth.

i've got 13" 4 pot porsche boxster S brakes up front and a disc conversion on the back.

when i first installed this i drove it without the servo connected and was surprised how much effort i still needed to stop the bus quickly. now i'm not saying that it was the same as the stock brakes, but it still took a fair amount of pedal force.

however, when i connected the servo up, this is when i benefited from having the discs.

personally, if i had the opportunity I would have liked to see how my original brakes would have handled with servo fitted. again, my bus is a crossover so i had discs as standard. but the mot man did tell me that my stock brakes were the best he had experienced on such an old vehicle

Nathan

I bet your brakes are ace now with the servo, Discs do require more force infact the Servo only became popular because of them.
I may try a servo with my stock set up.

 

[sparkywig]

Yes, unused 2nd hand Futbus kit on mine, but make sure that all the parts are correct before fitting.....
Customer service very good though.

 

[loweredlight]

Cheers guys

 

[Rexer]

Had a 64 split for 8 years with standard drum set up, worked fine when the drums were adjusted correctly but was adjusting them at least once a month.

I fitted CSP's on the front of the bay but not driven it yet, a few mates have this set up on theirs and said the difference was massive compared to their old drums.

Even if the brakes dont work 10 times better at least they are lower maintenance, to be honest i would be happy with them working just a little better but without the need to keep adjusting them.

 

[Marriedblonde]

I've not had my bus long and always have had my mind on more power so disc brakes were always on the horizon.

The first real trip out with the family was to camper jam with 4 of us on board and all our camping stuff. Got diverted off the main roads due to traffic and endup going through the country side down single track steep roads. although my brakes were new and worked (or so I thought, well they passed the MOT) they were useless. Within no time on a down hill section the had faded to nothing.

Needless to say I now have a CSP kit fitted. It might take a bit of effort to stomp on the pedal, although not sure if it more than the drums, but they stop each and every time.

So I say even with a stock engine if you are p[lanning on using your bus and carry anyone/thing in it they are a very worthwhile investment.

Cool air offer a 10% discount to us guys so might be worth a look there...

But decent brakes and tyres are always worth the money in my book.

 

[baron]

this is where front drums are really poor, braking when going downhill for any length of time, they fade away to useless

 

[StuF]

I have a CSP kit fitted to my fronts and it really is a great bit of kit.

Now they are bedded in I have loads of confidence pressing firmly on the stop pedal!

As I doubt I would have been adjusting my drums every month or so to keep them tip top a disk conversion suited me most.

They aren't cheap but better than the alternative.

 

[dublicious]

I am getting to drive my bay more and more as a daily, makes me smile every single time I get in it, but ... the brakes.

I would love to change the front drums to disc's but I simply can't afford £900 plus for a conversion! What are my options to do this on a shoe string?
I don't mind doing a waiting game for parts as long as I know what I am looking for! I was thinking get a later beam with a servo bracket, but would this fit, plus my bus is nicely lowered so more cost!

Take care

J

 

[5erge]

So what we're basically saying is that the disc conversions offer the advantage of less fade and the fact that they self adjust...

Do the Futbus/CSP kits offer an advantage over 71+ discs other than the wide5 setup?

Des

 

[sparkywig]

Futbus use Mk3 Golf callipers and vented discs.
CSP are GM callipers and solid discs.

 

[baj25]

I've had quite a few times when less fade would have been a very good thing indeed. It has been a while since I drove a late bay, but from memory, brakes were not dissimilar to my CSPs. HTH, Bri

 

[creationblue]

I find my discs offer a firmer peddle feel over the drums, and deffinatly dont fade like the drums did, so worth it for this alone in my book. I had a LB with servo and in fairness they knock the spots off non-servo brakes.

I think that servo assisted drums would be better value if your on a budget