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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
November 2002
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Re: brake upgrade
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Wed, 02 April 2003 22:28
 
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Seriously, DON'T BOTHER WITH YOUR REAR BRAKES. Unless you're going absolutely full-on then rear drums will be fine. Your front brakes do something like 90% of the braking, so you'll get nine times the result from a front brake conversion.
I don't know much about Sprinters in particular, but brake conversions are generally very easy, and cheap! Especially if you can use second hand parts from another car. Best way to go is ring a few engineering and brake places in your area to find someone who can do a custom conversion for you.
Then make a decision on what brakes you can fit under your wheels, and find a car that comes from the factory with a suitable vented disc size and a good caliper (big single or else twin/four pot). For my brake upgrade the actual discs and calipers themselves cost me $60. Obviously you'll need to get them machined but that's something like $30 for the pair... so $90 complete. Buy some good brake pads for a few hundred bucks... and get someone to make up some adapters for you.
After a brake conversion sometimes it's necessary to have a bias valve fitted as with bigger front brakes the rears will often lock up (bigger calipers need more fluid to move and no doubt have more resistance)
Hard to gauge cost, you really need to speak to the guy who will be doing the job and they'll be able to give you an idea.
Failing the funds or time to do that, bleed the COMPLETE braking system out - not just the fronts - with a reasonable quality fluid (being hydroscopic, old fluid is generally the weak point of many braking systems). Depending on the condition of your current factory rotors, get them machined and fit some good quality pads (be careful to get rid of all the dust in there and not to get any grease on the pads/rotors, or you'll undo all your hard work).
You can do the same for the drums - have them machined and have some good pads fitted. This own't make that much difference though so I'd recommend you save your money.
This should tide you over in the mean time.
Harder suspension and grippy tyres (particularly fronts) will also make your car pull up better. Also worthwhile is getting the flexible brake hoses replaced. Only baout $25 each, this will improve performance and safety... as old ones can flex badly and also may spring a leak after being manipulated.
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