My latest project - Disc Brakes for a 710/712
Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 4:38 pm
Its been too quiet on this site lately - so I thought it was time to show the project I've been working on for the last two years - a disc brake conversion for my Pinzgauer 710M.
The goal of the project was to make a "bolt-on" system which requires zero machining of the original Pinz parts - allowing for easier installation and replacement parts and, hopefully, a lower cost. Another goal was to also duplicate the Pinzgauer TD 716/718 disc brake setup as much as possible - same disc diameter and same caliper arrangement (i.e. dual calipers in front / single on rear) but using an easier to source, off-the-shelf caliper. Ideally the setup would work with the stock master cylinder also.
Well - the good news is that I was able to achieve all of those goals - but with one change - I had to go away from the stock Pingauer steel wheels and switched to steel wheels from a MB Sprinter (which are very similar to the Pinzgauer TD stock wheels). It should be possible to use Ford Transit or even Dodge Promaster wheels as well - there is an adapter / spacer included which can allow for either the stock 5x160 pattern or a 5x130 pattern (or possibly other 5x patterns).
The new brakes work extremely well. Was able to lock up all four wheels on dry asphalt pavement and they have great modulation ability - using the stock master brake cylinder.
Here is a photo of the front installation:
The calipers are Wilwood DynaPro's - which are now finally offered with dust boots which I consider a requirement for off-road use.
The new wheels allow the use of the G-Wagen center caps!
The setup does move the wheels outward 1 inch when using the Sprinter steel rims:
Here is the wheel adapter I used for the sprinter wheels which are hub-centric and use lug bolts:
And these are the steel brackets which allow the calipers to be attached to the stock backing plates without any machining:
I just added a proportioning valve to the rear brake circuit to allow manual adjustment of the rear brakes as I was finding it too easy to lock up the rear wheels on a lightly loaded 710. I found an easy way to install it right by the master cylinder that is easily accessible to the driver for adjustment. The Wilwood valve is nicely made and under $50 online.
So - I sent a message to Scott at Expedition-Imports asking if he was interested in selling this as a kit - but haven't seen a response yet. Anyone interested? The cost of a kit (if there was enough people to make up an order for 10 sets or so) might be about $800 (for a 710) or $1200 (for a 712) for everything other than the calipers and brake pads - which can be purchased online from many vendors (there isn't enough discount on them available to bother including them and they offer them in red, black and polished along with a dozen pad formulations). With the calipers/pads added, the total cost would be about $2000 for a 710 and $2800 for a 712 depending on the caliper and pads used. The new wheels would also be additional... but I've picked them up for $50 each off craigslist locally.
The other option to sell just the brackets and custom disc rotors and have all the other parts purchased separately from various web vendors - but there are a lot of little parts for the all the plumbing adaptions required.
Interested? Let me know...
The goal of the project was to make a "bolt-on" system which requires zero machining of the original Pinz parts - allowing for easier installation and replacement parts and, hopefully, a lower cost. Another goal was to also duplicate the Pinzgauer TD 716/718 disc brake setup as much as possible - same disc diameter and same caliper arrangement (i.e. dual calipers in front / single on rear) but using an easier to source, off-the-shelf caliper. Ideally the setup would work with the stock master cylinder also.
Well - the good news is that I was able to achieve all of those goals - but with one change - I had to go away from the stock Pingauer steel wheels and switched to steel wheels from a MB Sprinter (which are very similar to the Pinzgauer TD stock wheels). It should be possible to use Ford Transit or even Dodge Promaster wheels as well - there is an adapter / spacer included which can allow for either the stock 5x160 pattern or a 5x130 pattern (or possibly other 5x patterns).
The new brakes work extremely well. Was able to lock up all four wheels on dry asphalt pavement and they have great modulation ability - using the stock master brake cylinder.
Here is a photo of the front installation:
The calipers are Wilwood DynaPro's - which are now finally offered with dust boots which I consider a requirement for off-road use.
The new wheels allow the use of the G-Wagen center caps!
The setup does move the wheels outward 1 inch when using the Sprinter steel rims:
Here is the wheel adapter I used for the sprinter wheels which are hub-centric and use lug bolts:
And these are the steel brackets which allow the calipers to be attached to the stock backing plates without any machining:
I just added a proportioning valve to the rear brake circuit to allow manual adjustment of the rear brakes as I was finding it too easy to lock up the rear wheels on a lightly loaded 710. I found an easy way to install it right by the master cylinder that is easily accessible to the driver for adjustment. The Wilwood valve is nicely made and under $50 online.
So - I sent a message to Scott at Expedition-Imports asking if he was interested in selling this as a kit - but haven't seen a response yet. Anyone interested? The cost of a kit (if there was enough people to make up an order for 10 sets or so) might be about $800 (for a 710) or $1200 (for a 712) for everything other than the calipers and brake pads - which can be purchased online from many vendors (there isn't enough discount on them available to bother including them and they offer them in red, black and polished along with a dozen pad formulations). With the calipers/pads added, the total cost would be about $2000 for a 710 and $2800 for a 712 depending on the caliper and pads used. The new wheels would also be additional... but I've picked them up for $50 each off craigslist locally.
The other option to sell just the brackets and custom disc rotors and have all the other parts purchased separately from various web vendors - but there are a lot of little parts for the all the plumbing adaptions required.
Interested? Let me know...