Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:51:04 -0700
Reply-To: Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET>
Subject: Re: Why Bigger Brakes Was Cause of brake rotor warping
In-Reply-To: <0belhgavmo7bw33xe12gmhwq.1379101224938@email.android.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Haven't had to gear down yet, but I haven't gone over those two roads again either
________________________________
From: Jeff Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net>
To: Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET>
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2013 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: Why Bigger Brakes Was Cause of brake rotor warping
Do you gear down and use engine braking in addition to using your regular breaks? Just a thought.
Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET> wrote:
>Twice I heated the brakes in my old two wheel drive westy to the point of Oh Dear!
>
>Coming down into Shelter Cove on the Lost Coast in CA. had to downshift to first to stop then pulled over and let the brakes cool and went the rest of the way down in 1st.
>
>Coming over from Lake isabella in middle California to Highway 99. Smelled the brakes and pulled over immediately and let them cool down and went on much more slowly.
>
>Don't care what they cost [well I didn't at the time] nor how infrequently I need them. Once is more than enough.
>
>G 60s on the front
>Audi 5000 disks on the rear.
>
>and I'll still pull over and let them cool if I smell them or the pedal suddenly feels funny.
>
>JMO
>
>
>On Sep 13, 2013, at 11:18 AM, Don Hanson wrote:
>
>> That is a good article.
>>
>> I have about 20 sets of trashed Big Red brake rotors sitting around my
>> shop from my Porsche racing days. When the holes cracked and connected in
>> these rotors it was time to put on a new set. Breaking in new pads was
>> important...
>>
>> Finding the proper brake pad compound and understanding it, that too was
>> very important....The basics are that soft pads work better at lower temps
>> but wear out more quickly...Harder pads work better at higher temps (bigger
>> more consistent brake applications) but don't work very well at all when
>> they are below their best temperature range....Street pads...they are meant
>> to work best when dead cold...You get in the van and head out....then have
>> a panic stop...They work....Would not happen with a racing brake pad....On
>> the other hand, when you get your brake rotors glowing red from heat from
>> constant max braking....street pads are not going to stop you very well at
>> all........
>>
>> Our vans are really small trucks. They should probably be driven like
>> small trucks...somewhat carefully and with the vehicle weight in mind....I
>> bet a fully loaded Vanagon driven hard down a long grade with lots of tight
>> corners...that is nearly 5000lbs of weight, don't forget...even the best
>> Porsche Brembo brakes stuck on there would not be performing very well at
>> the bottom of that run.....
>>
>> I just drive mine like a small truck...conservatively when it comes to
>> brakes... One or two hard stops in traffic?...normal stock brakes will
>> handle that...Pushing it at 90mph down Tioga Pass?.....No Vanagon Big Brake
>> kit is going to do that very well.
>>
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