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Sat Jun 28, 2014 3:01 pm

Allo all
I am looking at upgrading my brakes as I run 16" wheels and find the actual OE setting questionable. I was told not to buy the GW kit because the pads are apparently available nowhere else than at GW itself. I was told to go with the Audi setting which come with new bigger calipers and rotors and easy to find pads. Any ideas or recommendations on the subject ...of brakes?

Moderator note: Topic title amended to be more specific since there is currently another big brake topic.

Sun Jun 29, 2014 9:28 am

I have the Smallcar, G60 kit. When I needed to replace the rotors and the pads I was able to replace it easily. And parts were pretty inexpensive. I paid $125 for drilled slotted rotors and pads. The drilled slotted rotors are much better then the smallcar rotors.

Mon Jun 30, 2014 11:42 am

Several threads on this subject. Use the search and you'll find plenty of opinions and options.

I had the Van Cafe kit installed. Audi parts - always available. My 2 cents.

Mon Jun 30, 2014 12:07 pm

Tryphon wrote: Allo all
I am looking at upgrading my brakes as I run 16" wheels and find the actual OE setting questionable. I was told not to buy the GW kit because the pads are apparently available nowhere else than at GW itself. I was told to go with the Audi setting which come with new bigger calipers and rotors and easy to find pads. Any ideas or recommendations on the subject ...of brakes?

What year van? If for some reason GW went out of business and the Pads were NLA, there is a company called Porterfield that can reline pads and shoes. You only need to supply the backing and dimensions. You could also order a spare set of pads and put them in your box of spares. I have zero experience with the GW brake kit. The description gets a little confusing as to what is required in addition to the kit depending on year etc.

Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:10 pm

Perfectly happy with my new GW BB Kit and not remotely worried about replacement parts. You've been told a load of BS. Most common BB kits available through reputable Vanagon vendors are very good. Take your pick.

Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:17 pm

Tryphon wrote: I was told not to buy the GW kit because the pads are apparently available nowhere else than at GW itself.

ThankYouJerry wrote: You've been told a load of BS.

Was he? Does anybody know where to find brake pads for this kit besides GoWesty? I really don't know. How about the calipers?

Mon Jun 30, 2014 10:23 pm

If everyone blabbed about where to find replacement brake pads for any of these kits then everyone would know what brake calipers they are using.
then they would realize they paid about 4 times as much as they would have if they would have purchased calipers and rotors from any plain old parts store.
But hey you gotta make money some how!

Tue Jul 01, 2014 6:01 am

I have the early version of the GoWesty Big Brake Kit (moderator edit: Gen-II version of GW's big brake kit) that the previous owner had installed at GoWesty in November 2009 on my 1987 Westfalia 2wd. They since have had a newer big brake kit available but I took photos of my brakes and pads in order make sure I could locate them here locally when the time comes.

the photos show the big brake pads are Mintex MDB 2041 which by a quick search online are Audi pads and seem to be readily available. pheeeww... =)

Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:38 am

My advice for those upgrading parts would be to purchase an addition set of rotors and two sets of pads.
That should be enough to satisfy the calipers and last a decade.
Want to get really detailed, get a caliper rebuild kit or three at the same time.

Done deal.

Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:56 am

HoustonPhotog wrote: I have the early version of the GoWesty Big Brake Kit that the previous owner had installed at GoWesty in November 2009 on my 1987 Westfalia 2wd. They since have had a newer big brake kit available but I took photos of my brakes and pads in order make sure I could locate them here locally when the time comes.

the photos show the big brake pads are Mintex MDB 2041 which by a quick search online are Audi pads and seem to be readily available. pheeeww... =)

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

Thank you! I had been worried about those pads a bit, but not any longer.
Thesamba rocks!

Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:59 am

NC Dude wrote: Thank you! I had been worried about those pads a bit, but not any longer.
Thesamba rocks!

no worries... i was worries too after i read your post so i had to go back and sift through some photos to see what i have. hehe

Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:51 am

HoustonPhotog wrote: I have the early version of the GoWesty Big Brake Kit that the previous owner had installed at GoWesty in November 2009 on my 1987 Westfalia 2wd. They since have had a newer big brake kit available but I took photos of my brakes and pads in order make sure I could locate them here locally when the time comes.

the photos show the big brake pads are Mintex MDB 2041 which by a quick search online are Audi pads and seem to be readily available. pheeeww... =)

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

Just for the record, this brake kit shown above is completely different from GW's current offering and none of the parts shown here interchange except for the hubs. Rotors, calipers, caliper brackets, pads, etc. are all different.

Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:55 am

Christopher Schimke wrote: Just for the record, this brake kit shown above is completely different from GW's current offering and none of the parts shown here interchange.

good to know... thats why i wanted to make sure I mentioned it was the first gen version of their big brake kit

side topic...
Christopher, I emailed you previously about hardware for CLK wheels... This is the kit i have up front. I still need to take the wheel back off and measure the hub and stud length.

hopefully i can get you the info soon so i can place a correct order... thanks

Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:06 am

Those photos are the second generation kit sold by GW. They are now on their third generation. The first generation was the RSA big brake kit.

Mark

HoustonPhotog wrote: Christopher Schimke wrote: Just for the record, this brake kit shown above is completely different from GW's current offering and none of the parts shown here interchange.

good to know... thats why i wanted to make sure I mentioned it was the first gen version of their big brake kit...

Wed Jul 02, 2014 11:45 am

crazyvwvanman wrote: Those photos are the second generation kit sold by GW. They are now on their third generation. The first generation was the RSA big brake kit.

Gen 3 is called the Bigger Brake kit.

Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:05 pm

Yeah I know, but I'm going to call it "The GW Gen III Bigger Brake Kit".

Mark

insyncro wrote: crazyvwvanman wrote: Those photos are the second generation kit sold by GW. They are now on their third generation. The first generation was the RSA big brake kit.

Gen 3 is called the Bigger Brake kit.

Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:23 pm

crazyvwvanman wrote: Yeah I know, but I'm going to call it "The GW Gen III Bigger Brake Kit".

Just so we're clear about GoWesty's offerings... :lol:

Gen I big brakes = Factory VW South African retrofit (kit no longer available; replacement rotors and pads are)
22S-615-301 (rotor)
22S-698-151B (pads; PBR Metal Master #D482M)

Gen II big brakes = Audi-based kit (no longer available in whole or in part at GW)
[Photos and info in post above]

Gen III bigger brakes = First generation GoWesty in-house kit

Gen I is currently on my '90 Westy. It's getting swapped out for the Gen III within the next week or two. I'll report on the difference, if any, in the official GW Bigger Brake topic: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=551588 .

Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:26 pm

AFAIK, the GW Gen II kit was the same Overland/Eurospec Audi A4/A6 based kit sold by various vendors.

Mark

Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:33 pm

crazyvwvanman wrote: AFAIK, the GW Gen II kit was the same Overland/Eurospec Audi A4/A6 based kit sold by various vendors.

Post corrected; thanks!

Wed Jul 02, 2014 1:04 pm

Thanks Mark and Kam.
I hope this helps people with the various differing parts.