Worst feature in my Mark 1 is the brakes - How can I improve

[Rolo]

The worst feature in my Mark 1 camper van is the brakes, even after I threw away the original front axle and fitted a front axle with disc brakes out of a Mark 2; what else can I do to improve its stopping ability?

It's almost three tons as it is now and since at this stage the plan is to change the rear axle for a slighltly wider track axle out of a Mark 4 I thought it might be wiser to plan now for any other changes.

I'm also using Dot 5 (silicone) brake fluid, if it is of any consequence.

[madmark]

i am still on drums i need to convert to discs!

[Rolo]

:shock: i am still on drums i need to convert to discs!

Just be careful and don't kill yourself or anybody else in the meantime.

[Sundowner]

Rolo do you have vented discs and 4 piston callipers or the MK2 solids??

Castlemain Rod shop do a Falcon 289mm disc conversion kit for the MK1
you also use Kingswood calipers and master cyl

[Rolo]

No, not vented and I'm reasonably certain that it doesn't have 4 callipers either.

[baconsdozen]

I changed my Mk1 to discs and to be honest noticed hardly any difference.First thing in the morning the drums would grab a bit but other than that I don't think well set up drums are much worse than a disc set up.

[Sundowner]

No, not vented and I'm reasonably certain that it doesn't have 4 callipers either.

Well you have that option!
I did it to my van and it stops really well plus i have GTHO falcon rear drums kinda helps too

If you have a 6 bolt front end the vented discs and 4 pot calipers bolt right on

[Rolo]

I find it difficult to believe that a car braking system could work better in a 3 ton vehicle but then these brakes are so bad that it's difficult to imagine anything worse so I might have to look into that it it is such a simple job.

Are you sure it would be so simple in a dual rear wheels Transit with very offset wheels and did you have to get an engineer's certificate for the change?

If one is necessary I would prefer to stick to something from a newer Transit than may not even be noticed at re-registration time.

[Sundowner]

The front vented discs and 4 pots bolt on with no mods on a 6 stud van

The rear brakes are a bolt on but i have a nine inch diff in my van

Vented with 6 stud hub on the left and non vented 5 stud on right


Vented disc and 4 pot caliper on 5 stud hub


GTHO drums, makes the transit drums look stupid


With the CRS conversion your going from a 270mm non vented disc to a 287mm vented disc and the holden WB caliper are a better design and have more pad area
its the same kit thats on my MK4 cortina


A SWB MK 1 transit is lighter than an XA falcon and they stoped good even when they're towing a 20ft boat

[stevew]

The man knows his brakes!

[Rolo]

So it will be a straight swap with the Mark 2 6 stud front axle but what do I have to do to fit those brakes in the dual wheel rear axle without changing to a 9" diff?[/b]

[Sundowner]

So it will be a straight swap with the Mark 2 6 stud front axle but what do I have to do to fit those brakes in the dual wheel rear axle without changing to a 9" diff?[/b]

just seperate your hub and disc and the vented discs will bolt right on
but be prepared for a shock when you want to overhaul your brakes
It works out cheaper to fit the falcon discs and get an engineers

I dont think theres any easy way to fit the GTHO drums to a transit axle

[Rolo]

just separate your hub and disc and the vented discs will bolt right on

Will it still be an improvement if that's all I do, leaving the existing master cylinder and rear brakes as they are now?

but be prepared for a shock when you want to overhaul your brakes
It works out cheaper to fit the falcon discs and get an engineers

Did you mean to say "engineer's report"?

How much is it for one and how would anybody notice that the front disc brakes aren't standard?

How much can I expect to pay for those disc brakes if I do the job myself?

And won't their bigger diameter interfere with the deep dish of six wheel Transits?

[Sundowner]

Im sorry mate the falcon conversion wont work with 6 stud

I never changed the master cyl on my van and i got an improvement

The conversion on the front of my cortina cost $700 but thats using all new parts

[Rolo]

Im sorry mate the falcon conversion wont work with 6 stud

No wonder I was confused.

That first post of yours stated;

If you have a 6 bolt front end the vented discs and 4 pot calipers bolt right on

And then in the post with the pictures you said;

The front vented discs and 4 pots bolt on with no mods on a 6 stud van

The rear brakes are a bolt on but i have a nine inch diff in my van

Vented with 6 stud hub on the left and non vented 5 stud on right

...with the picture underneath that, left AND right, showing only what I thought were 5 stud hubs.

What did you mean by "6 bolt front end" and "6 stud" in those posts?