GoWesty Rear Disc Brake Kit [Bus]
Product: | GW-B-REAR-DISC |
---|---|
Works With: | 1972-1979 |
Manufacturer: | GoWesty |
Difficulty: |
Requires a full tool set and broad mechanical knowledge. |
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!
I have a 1971 Bus. Can I use this kit? This kit bolts up to a 1971 Bus but requires custom modification for the parking/emergency brake to work.
I have a 1968-70 Bus. Why won't this brake kit work for me? Well, quite a few reasons actually! Converting your Bus to rear disc brakes would also require (in no particular order) the following:
• All new front disc brakes - No sense adding rear discs to a Bus with front drum brakes
• Convert the 5 x 205mm bolt pattern to the later-style 5 x 112 pattern
• New hubs - The drums on early vans have the hub built-in
• A different master cylinder
• A proportioning valve of some sort
• A 15” wheel that would clear the brakes
• Different parking brake cables
GoWesty Rear Disc Brake Kit [Bus] Wrench Rating
DIY — Requires a full tool set and broad mechanical knowledge.
All Wrench Ratings
Plug 'n' Play — Requires no or basic hand tools and no mechanical knowledge.
Handy — Requires some hand & power tools and minimal mechanical knowledge.
DIY — Requires a full tool set and broad mechanical knowledge.
Pro — Requires professional-level tools, talent and experience.