Dave's Big Brakes Official Announcements

[Dave's Big Brakes]

I am starting a new post for announcements about the progress and status of Dave's Big Brakes.

I posted this a few days ago in the farewell to my dad. I am logged in as Dave's Big Brakes.

From the previous post on Sunday July 2009:

Thank you everyone for your love and support of a great man, my dad, Dave Cawthorne (aka Big Brake Dave or OGO) We all loved him very much, and we can tell from the tremendous response that the Viper community loved him to.

I wanted to let everyone know that we will do our best to make sure that Dave's Big Brakes and Dave's Viper Shop will continue to do business. So please be patient, with current orders and future orders.

I am in the process of taking inventory, and can tell you that it is a bit overwhelming. It will be weeks before I even know what we have. I will be calling on the help of fellow Viper Club members to help with completing brake kit orders, I have know idea what parts, hardware and lines each kit needs. Once we figure out the details of the kits, then we will decide on the future of the business.

We will be having a party in OGO's honor, sometime in August, so please keep your calendars open. I will post here, when I find out the exact date.

Again, thank you everyone for all your love and support in our loss of my dad, Dave (OGO).

Jeffrey 'David' Cawthorne

 

[Newport Viper]

Great news that big brakes goes on. I will be there when u have the gathering!

 

[GBS]

Best of luck continuing your father's business!

 

[Mad Max 93 RT10]

I'll be placing my order as soon as you're ready to take it. Your father will be missed.

 

[dave6666]

...then we will decide on the future of the business.

Very understandable about the question that leaves; Big Dave let his passion of the Viper transpire into a business, with I'm sure the normal time consuming activities that go with having a business. No one here would want to see the business go away, but speaking for myself, the unexpected inheritance of someone else's business may or may not be the greatest thing ever to happen.

As a Viper owner with a generous chunk of Dave's catalog already on the car - but more to go - I would love to see the business live. But will fully respect any decisions that you make.

A suggestion though, if this has not already been thought of and planned. Publish a list of existing inventories, and if you decide to have only a partial catalog available in the future, what items are of final inventory; close outs.

 

[eucharistos]

well done jeffrey

 

[VIPER BAZ UK]

Great to keep Daves shop going strong...

I have a few parts to get and would like to get them from BBD........

 

[Paul Hawker]

Dave was a friend and neighbor of mine.

One of his favorite topics was how proud he was of his Son Jeff.

Dave used to work many hours setting up his Viper for his Son to take it to the autocross at Qualcomm to kick but. Dave's eyes would shine extra brightly when he explained how Jeff made everyone sit up and take notice when his big yellow viper surprised everyone charging around the tight autocross tracks.

I believe Dave would be so proud to know that his Son was going to carry on the tradition of Big Brake Dave. Dave loved to come up with cost effective ways to enhance the Vipers' dominance of big tracks like Willow Springs. Many is the time Dave would get up at O'Dark 30 to take his latest brake setup out to Willow Springs, run the track hard all day, and drive home, thinking of how to improve his setup even more.

I used to smile every time I saw Dave cruising around Rancho Bernardo, on a quick trip to the post office, or grocery store, driving his Yellow GTS as a daily driver with a huge smile on his face.

Jeff, you have a Father to be proud of, and congratulations on picking up the Viper torch.

 

[ViperTony]

Jeffrey, when you get around to it, can you check if you still have the RT/10 roll bar in stock? I'm still interested in it (and many other BBD items). Thanks. - tony

 

[02 Graphite GTS]

Dave was a friend and neighbor of mine.

One of his favorite topics was how proud he was of his Son Jeff.

Dave used to work many hours setting up his Viper for his Son to take it to the autocross at Qualcomm to kick but. Dave's eyes would shine extra brightly when he explained how Jeff made everyone sit up and take notice when his big yellow viper surprised everyone charging around the tight autocross tracks.

I believe Dave would be so proud to know that his Son was going to carry on the tradition of Big Brake Dave. Dave loved to come up with cost effective ways to enhance the Vipers' dominance of big tracks like Willow Springs. Many is the time Dave would get up at O'Dark 30 to take his latest brake setup out to Willow Springs, run the track hard all day, and drive home, thinking of how to improve his setup even more.

I used to smile every time I saw Dave cruising around Rancho Bernardo, on a quick trip to the post office, or grocery store, driving his Yellow GTS as a daily driver with a huge smile on his face.

Jeff, you have a Father to be proud of, and congratulations on picking up the Viper torch.

I can certainly attest to the the fact that He was extremely proud of you.
I vividly remember watching him leave the Aliante Casino parking lot at 6:00 am after spending 2 1/2 days out at the track setting up and helping out with the Western Zone Rendezvous in March. He left early so he could get home in time to watch you beat the 2008 National Champion by .245 seconds and win the Pro Solo Tour. I talked to him multiple times on his long drive home and again after watching your race. He was extremely proud !

You are more important to him than the Viper ever was and you can see by his business how much the Viper was to him.
Let me know if and when you need help and I'll come down to give you a hand.

Lance

 

[Dave's Big Brakes]

I can certainly attest to the the fact that He was extremely proud of you.
I vividly remember watching him leave the Aliante Casino parking lot at 6:00 am after spending 2 1/2 days out at the track setting up and helping out with the Western Zone Rendezvous in March. He left early so he could get home in time to watch you beat the 2008 National Champion by .245 seconds and win the Pro Solo Tour. I talked to him multiple times on his long drive home and again after watching your race. He was extremely proud !

You are more important to him than the Viper ever was and you can see by his business how much the Viper was to him.
Let me know if and when you need help and I'll come down to give you a hand.

Lance

Hi Lance,

I was wondering why he showed up on Sunday, I wasn't expecting to see him at the SD Tour. He was always great about supporting my racing, and besides, he and my mom are the reason I got into racing.

I will definitely be needing help with the Big Brake kits. The machined parts that Marc Johnson makes for him are a no brainer, it is the hardware, fittings and lines that are the problem I am faced with. There are boxes and bags full of hardware all over the garage, and none of them are labeled. I don't know what hardware each kit needs. I want to complete the orders, the stuff is there, but I need help putting them together.

Again, I want to thank everyone for their patience.

Jeffrey David Cawthorne

 

[viperdrummer]

I never had the good fortune of working with Dave, and I must be in the minority. My great loss. It is quite moving, however, to see you carry on in your dad's name . As a dad, I can tell you your father must be very proud of you.

I wish you good luck in carrying on in your dad's name.

 

[VIPER BAZ UK]

Hi Lance,

I was wondering why he showed up on Sunday, I wasn't expecting to see him at the SD Tour. He was always great about supporting my racing, and besides, he and my mom are the reason I got into racing.

I will definitely be needing help with the Big Brake kits. The machined parts that Marc Johnson makes for him are a no brainer, it is the hardware, fittings and lines that are the problem I am faced with. There are boxes and bags full of hardware all over the garage, and none of them are labeled. I don't know what hardware each kit needs. I want to complete the orders, the stuff is there, but I need help putting them together.

Again, I want to thank everyone for their patience.

Jeffrey David Cawthorne

I'm sure with the amount of members here that have Daves products we can all chip in and assist you with what goes with what...

I have almost all of the BBD range on my Viper (and its yellow)

 

[GTS-R 001]

Perhaps a customer of the Big Brake kits has some instructions or a list of the parts supplied in each kit and could send it to Jeff to help him out?

 

[ViperTony]

You could call/email Tator...he's done MANY Big Brake Kit upgrades and probably has the parts list memorized.

 

[VIPER BAZ UK]

Think i still have all the paperwork from My BBD orders.... Could fax them to you if you PM me a No???

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I always admired the way Dave got along so well with the other vendors on this board, which also goes to speak highly of them. RIP Dave, you were a terrific Viper guy.

Best of luck to you Jeff.

 

[dave6666]

I think the suggestions to send copies of instruction etc have limited usefulness to a guy that has stated he has bags of unlabeled parts. What is he going to do with your parts numbers?

Now if you could send those lists with pics of the parts, lengths of hoses...

 

[Viper Wizard]

Hi Jeffery,

When your Dad met my Dad a few years ago they where like two peas in a pod! Just think, there're up there shooting the breeze about cars and watching us and I'm sure they are saying, here's the wand, run with it.

How ever I can help, let me know.
Matter of fact we're all here!

Chuck

 

[02 Graphite GTS]

I think the suggestions to send copies of instruction etc have limited usefulness to a guy that has stated he has bags of unlabeled parts. What is he going to do with your parts numbers?

Now if you could send those lists with pics of the parts, lengths of hoses...

Dave,
As always you have hit the nail square on the head.

I'm going to head down to Dave's place on Friday to try and sort through all the bags of hardware. I have installed 3 of the kits on cars....but never had to figure out what hardware was required since it was already bagged and ready to go.

I'm confident that I can figure it out, but worry that there will be slight differences in bolt lengths depending on which brackets/caliper combo you are installing.

If anyone has the Kit # (DVS-001, DVS-002, etc) and can tell me specifically what hardware came in it, ie bolt length, type, thread, etc. that would be
a tremendous help !

You can PM me or email me direct. [email protected]

With any luck, we'll be able to get the orders that people have been patiently waiting for out on Friday.

Thanks!

Lance

 

[VIPER BAZ UK]

Now if you could send those lists with pics of the parts, lengths of hoses...[/quote]


I think these details are in the instructions i will check them out.... And get them to you...

 

[Blue Batmobile]

I'm glad you are carrying out your Dad's business. I look forward to meeting you one day. I reside in San Diego myself, and your Dad was the first to welcome me to the Viper family. He had become a good friend of mine, and I will miss him dearly.

Bat

 

[dave6666]

I think these details are in the instructions i will check them out.... And get them to you...

I have the DVS-001 kit on my car, including every available option that you could get with it like the hoses and e-brake etc. I seem to recall, and Baz may have nailed that to a degree, that Dave did specify bolt lengths in the instructions. Don't know if diameter, thread pitch, head style etc were called out, but the instructions might not be entirely useless.

You'll probably get it done without me, but if I need to pull some wheels and get hose lengths with pics of the brackets etc, just let me know. There were a lot of individual parts with each kit. Banjo adapters and crush seals, the works.

Having spoken to Dave about the kits before purchasing them, it became apparent how much thought had gone into them and how thorough they would be. Great for the car hobbyist then, a little tricky for you now.

 

[Dave's Big Brakes]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all the offers to help, it is greatly appreciated.

I am confident, with Lance's help, that we will be able to define the ingredients very soon. Then hopefully, by early next week, we should be able to send out the outstanding orders. Please stay patient with us, this has been a really rough time on us. There is still so much to do.

Jeffrey

 

[VIPER BAZ UK]

No Rush on great Vendors..........

 

[dave6666]

If this will help, you're welcome. Took these right after I did the install, no crawling under the car last night.

SRT calipers with 14" rotors and e-brake kit. I think this is the DVS-001. Got it from Dan at Viper Specialty. He handled the part numbers.

Here was the loot as delivered:

You must be registered for see images

The e-brake kit calls for 1/2-20 x 3" long grade 8 bolts and washers. They look to be hex head bright yellow cad plated; bolts and washers. They are the ones hiding behind the bracket; the easily visible bolts came already together, braket to caliper. No other separate items I believe.

You must be registered for see images

On the front caliper bracket there is an assortment of fasteners. The instructions do not mention the sizes, but some details. There are 2 that take an 8mm hex key, and 2 that take a 10mm hex key. Plus shiny bright yellow cad washers for each. The caliper attaches with ARP studs and 12 pt nuts. No washers.

The fluid hose to the back of the caliper there should be the banjo bolt, brass banjo adapter, and copper crush washer as part of the hose kits. The hose instructions call this a 19" long hose. There should also be a stainless steel mounting bracket that kinda shows in the 2nd pic.

The hoses come with the cable ties and short rubber tubing isolators.

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

On the rear the brackets mount with 1/2-20 x 3" long grade 8 bolts and washers. They look to be hex head bright yellow cad plated; bolts and washers. The caliper attaches with ARP studs and 12 pt nuts. No washers.

The fluid hose is the same business as the front, but is called an 18" long hose. You can kinda see the bracket in the 2nd pic.

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

 

[02 Graphite GTS]

Hey Dave,
Thanks for the pictures. I crawled under my car last night and pulled out the bolts to verify lengths and thread pitch.
I'll tell you that mine needs some serious cleaning compared to yours !

You and I have the same kit on our cars....I'm wondering how similar the "other" kits will be in terms of hardware. My assumtion is that the bracket mounting hardware will be the same and the only big difference will be on the kit that moves the front calipers to the rear. The hardware that secures those calipers will be different than the SRT10 calipers.

I'm heading down to SD here shortly and armed with all the clues to the puzzle, I'm pretty sure it won't be too hard to sort through.

Thanks for all the help !
Lance

 

[Simi Viper]

Hey Jeff,
I have the same kits with Dave DVS-001. I went through my computer and found these couple of pics for the front brake calipers bolt with specs label on it. Hope this will help.

 

[VIPER BAZ UK]

Glad you got the pics Lance any more help just ask........

 

[02 Graphite GTS]

Thank You all for the help !!
The pictures and instruction sheets, along with a few phone calls made this a very productive day.
Jeff, his buddy Lawrence and I spent the better part of 4 hours going through parts bins and cabinets assessing and figuring out what went with what. The hardest part was trying to locate items that either a) were out of stock or b) hidden in a box somewhere and not yet inventoried.

Murphy's law always seems to apply in cases like this.
You need a red one and only have chrome or you need 8 metric bolts and only have 7.....

Bottom line is that we were able to take all orders that had backed up and were able to fill the majority of them. Jeff ordered missing hardware and should have that in early next week which will allow him to complete the BBK orders.

Again, I have to say that Dave's family is doing the best they can in a very sad time for them and truly appreciate everyone's patience.

All your help sure helped me out today and I thank you for that

Lance