GoWesty Rear Disc Brake Kit [Bus]

GoWesty Rear Disc Brake Kit [Bus]

$914.00
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GoWesty Rear Disc Brake Kit [Bus]
Product: GW-B-REAR-DISC
Works With: 1972-1979
Manufacturer: GoWesty
Availability: Only 5 Left in Stock!
Wrench Rating: Requires a full tool set and broad mechanical knowledge.

$914.00

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The GoWesty rear disc brake conversion system is properly engineered, tested, and specifically designed to be a direct bolt-on fit on any 1972-79* Type II Bus—using all new parts and with no modifications to the vehicle. No machining your hubs, no messing around. Plus, you get an emergency brake that actually works! In fact, it delivers 30% greater holding power than the e-brake on your original drum brake system.

This brake system takes about as much time to install as it takes to do a regular "rear brake job" on the existing drum brake system—about four hours. That is, if you can find somebody who knows how to work on drum brakes! Nowadays, finding a mechanic who knows what they are doing when it comes to drum brakes is not easy. Drum brakes have pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur, plain and simple. Not only do they under-perform in terms of actually stopping your vehicle, they are very labor-intensive to service and maintain compared to disc brakes. It's really no wonder why they disappeared entirely from use decades ago.

The initial cost of this system is about twice as much as the cost for all the parts needed to completely rebuild the existing drum brake system. However, since the cost to maintain our new system thereafter is substantially less, the system will pay for itself—and then some—over time. Cost-wise, it's a no-brainer. Performance-wise, it is just plain silly not to switch!

Fits: All 1972-1979* Type-II Bus. This brake kit will not fit any 14” wheel, upgrading to 15” or larger is required.

*This kit bolts up to a 1971 Bus, but requires custom modification for the parking/emergency brake to work.


Kit includes:
• (2) GoWesty drum-to-disc brake adaptor brackets
• (2) Calipers (Left & Right)
• (2) Rotors
• (1) Brake pad set (replace with VW#7D0698451J or universal#D877-7754)
• (2) Braided stainless hoses
• (2) Parking brake cables
• (2) Stainless dust shields
• (10) New, longer wheel studs
• (1) All needed hardware and detailed installation instructions

Features at a glance:
• Improved stopping performance
• Improved pedal feel
• Improved parking brake by about thirty-percent
• Better performance, better long-term availability, and better value than just rebuilding the existing drum brake system

Still need convincing?
• Additional cost to update to a disc brake system will pay for itself after the very first brake job!
• Drum brakes are obsolete. Move on up to the 21st (uh, I mean, mid-20th) century!
• You will find it difficult to locate a mechanic who really knows how to work on drum brakes, and even if you do...
• You will pay a lot more in labor to maintain the drum brake system over time.
• Disc brakes versus drum brakes: They are simpler, cheaper to maintain, stop better, and have a better parking brake, too!

  • 5 stars: 4 (100%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
J
Joseph B.
One of my favorite upgrades! You will not be disappointed!

First thing the M8 35mm bolt to attach the caliper adapter/splash plate is too short. There was just no way to get the nut on let alone the nut and washer on. My local hardware store has a metric section so just went and grabbed longer bolts.
I called GoWesty and provided the feedback that it needed to be a 40mm. Clarence said I was the first to provide this feedback and they have been selling it a couple of years. If you have feedback like this to provide please let them know! They can't correct it for others if you don't.

The installation was rather straight forward remove the drums/backing plates and bolt everything on. I expected the axle nut removal or the wheel studs to be the hardest part. Turns out those two things were the easiest. The hardest part was getting the backing plate off due to the dowel pin rusting itself into place. I used an air hammer to push them right out. I ordered new 10mm x 20mm stainless dowel pins from Amazon in advance so I did not have to bother with getting them out of the backing plates. It might be a good idea to just add them to the kit for future orders. Once assembled the fluid hose IMO is a little too short. It was not too big of a challenge but an extra inch would have made things much easier and will make future pad replacement a lot easier.

On the wheel studs I followed the instructions and replaced them. Keeping in mind I am running 17" Heritage wheels. With the OEM studs the studs basically set flush with the lug nut with not extra threads sticking out. With the new studs I have almost a half inch of threads coming out of the end of the lug nut now after torquing to the 94 ft lbs. I can not say with 100% certainty that the OEM studs would have been too short. I did have to upgrade my lug nut socket in my break down tool kit to a deep socket due to the longer studs.

As for performance of the product it works and works extremely well! Normally even with my drums adjusted properly if I left the e brake on I could "drive". With these you aren't moving. Well with the investment and you will be extremely happy with the results.

R
Robert

Super happy with this product 😁👍

R
Robert S.
RETRO BUILD DOG MUSHING BUGGY.

The products are a great fit. My projects always come with challenges. And that is just the way this works for me. Had no problems fitting up the parts. thank you for a quality product.

B
Brian G.
EXCELLENT KIT!

I had my local VW mechanic install this set on my '76 Westy and he says it's the best kit he's ever seen. One helluva improvement!
If you're looking to upgrade your rear brakes, this is the kit!