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Superbug Front Disc Brake Upgrades??

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DylanTheDubber Custom Title Time!

1,252 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#857226
Hey Guys,

Im Rebuilding the front end on my bug and want to upgrade or modifiy the front brakes on my beetle to something a bit better and also want to run a Subaru Stud Pattern of 5x 114.4 i think it is?? Wanting a Cheap upgrade thats a bit better and will suit.

From Dylan

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#857240
Dylan the words cheap and brakes do not go together,the standard brakes with decent rotors and pads work quite well and would in my opinion be better off waiting until you can afford an upgrade. Cheers Les

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·

#857249
Hey grumble, what rotors and pads can you upgrade to?

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#857254
There are plenty of "kits" out there
V Force do a Boxster upgrade for one
You need to match the rears as well
There is not much change from several grand
Futue te ipsum!!!

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#857277
Bizarre wrote:There are plenty of "kits" out there
V Force do a Boxster upgrade for one
You need to match the rears as well
There is not much change from several grand
As I said cheap and brakes do not go together,Richard is a great one to talk to regarding safety equipment such as brakes.

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#857315
Hi

The only bolt on upgrade is early Type 3 callipers, they use a 42 rather than a 40 mm piston. They use the same pads as 72 Supers, but have a single bleed nipple as opposed to supers which have twin bleed nipples.

I have them on my sons bug.

Steve

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#857321
DylanTheDubber wrote:Hey Guys,

Im Rebuilding the front end on my bug and want to upgrade or modifiy the front brakes on my beetle to something a bit better and also want to run a Subaru Stud Pattern of 5x 114.4 i think it is?? Wanting a Cheap upgrade thats a bit better and will suit.

From Dylan
114.3 IS A COMMON pcd??

YOU WILL NEED TO BUY NEW BRAKE DISCS AND BRAKE DRUMS and have them redrilled... John Sherman does them.

the front disc brakes on Beetles work really great..
I can lock up My front brakes any time by hitting the brakes..
so, paying for better brakes isn't needed..
and having the rears adjusted up will lock them all up..
especially in the wet... YIKES...

remember that NO BEETLES in USA ever had disc brakes...
even in 1976... lol

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·

#857328
1303Steve wrote:Hi

The only bolt on upgrade is early Type 3 callipers, they use a 42 rather than a 40 mm piston. They use the same pads as 72 Supers, but have a single bleed nipple as opposed to supers which have twin bleed nipples.

I have them on my sons bug.

Steve
Do they make much of a difference?
Also I've read about people using type 3 drums up back. I assume they are slightly bigger in some respect. Do you know if this I'd correct?

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#857333
Correct

Type 3 drums are the go but parts are hard to get
Futue te ipsum!!!

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#857343
Hi Lee,
Locking your front brakes up is no indication of how good they are and larger brakes are a huge improvement over the standard ones on your car, the brake should not fade and allow good modulation of the brake force without locking the wheels allowing you to be able to steer the car under heavy braking, if you drive your car with any spirit you will find the standard disc's fade quickly when you brake hard repeatly, i have engineered my four wheel disc brake conversion and both ends are vented 300 MM disc's with the fronts have a four spot calipers, major increase in braking force without any lock up.

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Aussie Dubbin Fahrvergnugen

895 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·

#857347
Dylan go to your local brake shop, try and find one that deals with performance brakes/pads. Speak to them about getting some better material bonded to your pads and shoes. This will bring about a marked improvement for a little cost.

Good luck
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Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#857349
Don't quote me on it but the type3 rear drums are 46mm wide shoes vs 40mm beetle ones sounds about right.
But it;s the design thats better, I had them on my black bug, they're like modern cars have with a hub then the drum sits over that, so the axle nut never needs undoing for anything other than bearing replacement.

Dylan, Subis are 5x100 but 5x114.3 is the better choice as it;s the most common stud pattern out there.

Falcon, toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi etc all use that pattern.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#857760
vwo60 wrote:Hi Lee,
Locking your front brakes up is no indication of how good they are and larger brakes are a huge improvement over the standard ones on your car, the brake should not fade and allow good modulation of the brake force without locking the wheels allowing you to be able to steer the car under heavy braking, if you drive your car with any spirit you will find the standard disc's fade quickly when you brake hard repeatly, i have engineered my four wheel disc brake conversion and both ends are vented 300 MM disc's with the fronts have a four spot calipers, major increase in braking force without any lock up.
yeah fade is a major problem. I don't think I have ever driven a car without being able to fade the brakes.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

Lucky Phil Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Aug 2010 ·

#857802
I have had fade twice in my life and it 'aint fun!
The pedal remains rock hard and the braking just fades away.
Real scary stuff.

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#857827
The standard disc's on my 70 model beetle used to just lock, it was nothing or all with no control in between, the brakes that i built myself are so large for the car i have not been able to get them to fade,