Rear Brake Disk Conversion

Post by **Mark S** » 09 Jul 2007, 16:23

1987 Westy Joker.

I've seen advertised rear brake disk conversion kits. Seems to make sense as the old drum brakes are not renowned for their efficiency and I cannot remember servicing mine since buying the bus, in which time I've got through several sets of front pads. Handbrake is also prone to sticking when I don't drive it for a while.

Has anyone fitted rear disks and are they recommended?

Thanks.

Post by **R0B** » 09 Jul 2007, 16:29

they are not cheap about £500 iirc.not fitted any myself.try...http://futbus.com/

Post by **toomanytoys** » 09 Jul 2007, 21:27

The rear drums are perfectly fine for most vans.. if serviced and in good nick

*only an issue when driving like a loon and with big engines.. but the fronts will concern you before the rears!!!

Even VW SA didnt sfeel they needed upgrading with the 140bhp 5 cyl engines they installed.. they did upgrade the fronts though..

Several sets of front pads??

how many miles do you do on them then??? I have only used 3 or 4 sets of pads in 200k km!!!!!! and one set was only coz I fitted new discs...

Post by **HarryMann** » 09 Jul 2007, 22:26

Maybe not using pukka VW front pads...

Post by **Mark S** » 10 Jul 2007, 06:17

Dunno, but I'm not exactly a boy-racer. I've had the bus for about 5 years and done, say, 50,000 K's in that time. I replaced the pads when I first bought it and again when I changed the front disks a year later. I can't remember whether they've been changed again since but it hardly matters because pads are as cheap as chips anyway and I would not say that my pad usage is any greater than average.

I was wondering how I could give the grannies crossing the road half a chance by encouraging the back brakes to do more work, thereby increasing stopping power and reducing the risk of worn-out rear drums failing one day. I have had a re-think, though, and at £500 I would say that my drums seem to be working very nicely!!!

Post by **KarlT** » 10 Jul 2007, 08:44

Mark S wrote: I have had a re-think, though, and at £500 I would say that my drums seem to be working very nicely!!!

If you're going to give them a over-haul.

Would be interested on how it go's.

Got to have a look at mine someday.

Post by **Bilbo Blue** » 10 Jul 2007, 09:19

5 Years without servicing or cleaning back brakes.............shame on you!

Post by **Mark S** » 10 Jul 2007, 17:29

Bilbo Blue wrote:5 Years without servicing or cleaning back brakes.............shame on you!

I agree! Every time I ask a garage to service them they tell me they are fine and don't need anything doing to them. Each year after a squirt of WD40 they break all records for stopping power at the MOT test. It's quite disappointing not to be hit with loads of teeth-sucking and a huge bill for parts and labour (all + VAT of course). I'm trying to pre-empt failure with my disk project. I get the impression that drum brakes don't really do their share of the work.

Post by **HarryMann** » 10 Jul 2007, 22:00

I get the impression that drum brakes don't really do their share of the work.

It does notice when they've been fully refurbed and have bedded back in again... they seem to need de-dusting and adjusting again after a few thousand miles.

If it's particularly heavy or fast, or has bigger wheels and tyres, then a lot of fitters seem to suggest using genuine pads and linings.

The front disc wear limit is 12mm from 16mm new - some vans are only 12mm as new. T25 needs all the brakes it can get, if rear discs were only £250 many would probably have them by now. The std handbrake is 'just about good enough' at best, on steep slopes.

Post by **tangalooma flyer** » 11 Jul 2007, 11:42

has anyone fitted rear granada discs etc,

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