Where's Cooper?

[Cooper]

Ha love it. Sorry about spelling mistake lol.
You work in herts?

[Cooper]

Are the standard brakes on a syncro up to snuff for off road driving or would it be worth up grading at some point?

@ syncropaddy

You mentioned you bought a power steering colunm for your vw how hard is it to fittt to a vw syncro?:)

[HarryMann]

You work in herts?

Well, i call it work, some others don't

Brakes fine for off-roading, which is not very demanding although the handbrake can be quite deficient off or on-road even when freshly serviced (sometimes particualrly when freshly serviced )

It's with a heavy load, a heavy truck and carrying a bit of speed on the main roads when you can find them wanting, compared to a modern car... it really depends whether you are driving it like it should be (petending it's a 40 ton artic) and allowing for it's er, inertia shall we say. IMHO, T25s shouldn't be driven like a hatchback, they require a lot more reading the road ahead, and predictive abilities, than a quicj stomp on the brakes when required and twiddlle of that wheel thing if someone does something unexpectd... can all be too late, and end up a bit sad.

Only my opinion though, 2 tons shouldn't be driven like one ton

[Cooper]

Yeh i bought a tranny approx a year ago and it had no power steering brakes wernt great. And driving it you have ti pre-empt what will or might happen.

[syncrosimon]

VW got the brakes right on the 16" Syncro's. I really and honestly can say that you would never consider a brake upgrade on a 16 when all is set up right. I get my brakes tested on the rollers at MOT thanks to the decoupler as it is such an important part of driving. It's all about maintenance.

[Cooper]

VW got the brakes right on the 16" Syncro's. I really and honestly can say that you would never consider a brake upgrade on a 16 when all is set up right. I get my brakes tested on the rollers at MOT thanks to the decoupler as it is such an important part of driving. It's all about maintenance.

Ive herd its 14" vw is easyer to get parts for as they are pretty much the same as the 2wds. And the 16" parts are a bit more money.

Your vw syncro is very nice.

[syncrosimon]

Thanks to Brickwerks that 'old' saying thankfully is not really true anymore.

Sometimes you have to spend to save.

A well running WBX is a really great engine, a 25 year old 9 owner non maintained WBX is a different proposition. Any new engine is nice be it Subaru, Diesel or WBX.

[jed the spread]

Thanks to Brickwerks that 'old' saying thankfully is not really true anymore.

Sometimes you have to spend to save.

A well running WBX is a really great engine, a 25 year old 9 owner non maintained WBX is a different proposition. Any new engine is nice be it Subaru, Diesel or WBX.

I have got to admit every time I have been round Lloydy's house to work on his 16" to do a job I have done on a 14" a few times has rarely been exactly the same. My basic tool kit that changes most things on a 14" are not really any good on a 16" for a good few things but this has given him chance to buy in things as and when he has needed to use stuff I dont have and use on my vans. As far as parts go, so far I dont think he has had much trouble getting things delivered two days after. I am sure I bore the crap out of him comparing this and that but I have to say I do enjoy going round there, especially now all the rusty corn flakes have been worn off and have stopped dropping in our eyes

jed

[syncrosimon]

I think the only tool that is different for a 16 is the cv bolt spline bit. £4.00 at Halfords. The better quality bolt is now used on the 14" syncro's by many aftermarket suppliers.

[rollercoaster]

I get my brakes tested on the rollers at MOT thanks to the decoupler

Should I worry if it goes on the rollers without decoupling?
Could an unsyncrathetic tester damage the running gear?

[syncrosimon]

The syncro being a full time 4x4 is exempt from the rollers and gets a drive test with a swing meter or a digital brake gauge. The MOT rollers only drive one axle and so in 4x4 would drive the syncro off. Thus the brakes never really get checked properly, on an old vehicle I think this is a really important thing to have right. Decoupled you can test as a 2wd.

On the last two occassions the MOT tester has allowed me to nip up one of the rear adjusters to bring them both exactly the same. This I find is reassuring should you really need to slam the brakes on. And because the brakes are standard you know that they are as VW intended and tested. Peace of mind.

[axeman]

I get my brakes tested on the rollers at MOT thanks to the decoupler

Should I worry if it goes on the rollers without decoupling?
Could an unsyncrathetic tester damage the running gear?

yep

the tester will have egg on his face when your van jumps off the rolling road.

neil

[lloydy]

That seems to be the main difference, bolts and the like being one or two sizes bigger.
You'd never bore me jed, every visits an education I'm proof your not in it Just for the sponsorship
on the 16" I like them, but some parts are eye wateringly expensive (trailing arms) but most parts are a bit beefier, so last a bit longer.......maybe

[lloydy]

I think the only tool that is different for a 16 is the cv bolt spline bit. £4.00 at Halfords. The better quality bolt is now used on the 14" syncro's by many aftermarket suppliers.

The six bolts that hold the brake backplate on are bigger too

[lloydy]

The syncro being a full time 4x4 is exempt from the rollers and gets a drive test with a swing meter or a digital brake gauge. The MOT rollers only drive one axle and so in 4x4 would drive the syncro off. Thus the brakes never really get checked properly, on an old vehicle I think this is a really important thing to have right. Decoupled you can test as a 2wd.

On the last two occassions the MOT tester has allowed me to nip up one of the rear adjusters to bring them both exactly the same. This I find is reassuring should you really need to slam the brakes on. And because the brakes are standard you know that they are as VW intended and tested. Peace of mind.

Have to say, when I've adjusted them properly they are bloody good. Handbrake especially.