VW Bus disc brakes question

[davepoth]

I've just been off looking at VW buses with a friend of mine. A couple of applications of the brakes reminded me that drums aren't really enough to stop something that big. <br>
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She's looking at a '70 bus which is the last year before front discs were added. I can't find anything concrete about exactly how much work is involved in changing over to front discs, does anybody know?

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[Sprint36]

Simple job - well sort of. You need everything from the uprights outwards from a post 73 van. Although discs were fitted from 71, the pads are thicker on the later vans and the early calipers are hard to get hold of.<br>
<br>
So you need upright, stub axle, hub, disc, caliper, back plate for each side. Best bet is to hunt around for second hand stuff. I got all mine from MegaBug (0208 317 7333), but there are other breakers out there. Use new wheel bearings and think about new ball joints while it's all apart.<br>
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Drums can be made to work reasonably well by the way, but need adjusting regularly to keep them good. And of course don't dissipate heat so well.<br>
<br>
Beyond the above, there are conversions avaialable using porsche 944 components and you can get rear disc conversions too.<br>
<br>
David

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[davepoth]

Excellent info. I knoew the TDC would come through for me.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> My friend in question wants to go surfiing a lot, so I forsee lots of narrow country lanes and steep roads to beaches, and she isn't particularly mechanically minded, so the lack of need for adjusting will be a bonus.<br>
<br>
Now the other question is, does anybody know of a place that can do the conversion?

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[Sprint36]

Whereabouts is she? How much of a hurry is she in?<br>
<br>
David

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[davepoth]

Van is in Somerset, about 10 miles south of Bath. I said I'd try to see about getting the brakes done before she comes back off holiday on the 20th of August.

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[Sprint36]

If you can gather all the bits as complete assemblies then it really is just a matter of 2 ball joints, a steering rod and a brake pipe each side. If you were near me I'd do it for you. There's a place near Warminster called Evolution who I've used, but they usually have a long waiting list. You could get yourself onto <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/" target="top">VZi</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> and ask for a recommendation in your area.<br>
<br>
David

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[davepoth]

Cheers David. I check it out.

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[alun n]

...and I hope she appreciates your efforts when she comes back!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[dollyboy]

I have a buddy who imports campers from US, plays about with them and sells them, making sensible £££ in the process... his bus is getting the porsche engine treatment shortly <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :evil --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif ALT=":evil"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
he may be able to help and may even have some bits.<br>
<br>
he likes his triumphs too, his dad sold me my 1st SE and also currently has a herald in bits...<br>
<br>
can pass on his number if needed

<p>project orange - slow progress<br>
project black - coming on, could be sold...<br>
project white - pimp my tolly, next year!</p><i></i>

[davepoth]

Found a guy who does VWs, who is helpfully enough 20 yards from the compound I have the van parked in. Got all the bits on order, so I should get it all done next week. Strange old experience driving a bus though. Some stuff feels really antique, but other things just seem so well done for 1970 it makes me sad when I look at the dolomite.

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[Jod Clark]

What a shocking waste of a Porsche engine. Why people like the VW bus is beyond me. Even Nigel's totally mint one (star of the forthcoming TV show 'Camper Van Crisis', Marion's brother's wagon) whilst being a minter in EVERY way, does absolutely nothing for me.<br>
<br>
Sorry<br>
<br>
Jod

<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.towingandleisure.co.uk/images/bash.gif" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... dclark>Jod Clark</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.towingandleisure.co.uk/images/bash.gif" BORDER=0> at: 30/7/06 3:08 pm<br></i>

[davepoth]

Looks nice with surfboards on the roof. I also like the comedy value of "When this van's a'rockin'..." stickers...<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[dollyboy]

have to say its nice to see them painted up nicely and done out properly. all this 'rat look' nastiness does nowt for me, and as far as buses go in general, while its nice to see them, I wouldnt have one myself.<br>
<br>
porsche engine - thats exactly what I told him, along with "all that time n effort, engineering etc to make it fit... blah blah... better off doing up the herald IMO!!"<br>
<br>
each to their own of course, and if everyone was the same the world would be pretty boring...<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p>project orange - slow progress<br>
project black - coming on, could be sold...<br>
project white - pimp my tolly, next year!</p><i></i>

[davepoth]

Funnily though, the bus has 50/50 weight distribution, and can be made to handle a lot better than most campervans. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> . I once saw one with BMW M3 running gear, which was mind boggling.

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[2F45T4U]

There was one at CARS show at Santa Pod. It was doing the auto test on the grass. Mates got a picture of it going sideways <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :p --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Brave man <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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