converting 64 beetle to discs · Aussieveedubbers

x275 · 14 May 2013, 10:19 pm

Hello,

Just wanted to find out the cheapest way to convert a '64
beetle to disc brake front end.

All advice much appreciated.

Cheers,
Conan

vwo60 · 15 May 2013, 8:00 am

You can buy a bolt on conversion in wide 5, it will require the master cylinder to be changed to dual circuit one, a legal requirement, then you will be required to have it inspected and the mod approved. depending were you are it could be fitted with a mod plate. Nothing is cheap if you do it correctly.

x275 · 15 May 2013, 12:33 pm

Nothing is cheap if you do it correctly. [/quote]

This is true, I just want the least expensive while still safe.

1303Steve · 15 May 2013, 12:56 pm

Hi

The system that Vintage Vee Dub sells is pretty good, its not Chinese junk like other people sell.

Steve

PS I beat Birchall

sander288 · 15 May 2013, 2:08 pm

cost can also be dependent to a certain extent on what PCD you're after. the wide 5 brakes are typically more than others

x275 · 15 May 2013, 3:54 pm

I'll give them a buzz then.

Cheers.

vwo60 · 15 May 2013, 9:25 pm

allow some money for the compliancing

x275 · 16 May 2013, 9:45 pm

Does anyone know roughly how much the compliance will cost ?

Cheers

psimitar · 16 May 2013, 10:50 pm

1303Steve wrote:Hi

The system that Vintage Vee Dub sells is pretty good, its not Chinese junk like other people sell.

Steve

PS I beat Birchall

But the rotor is not seperate from the hub so much more expensive for future maintenance costs.

As for the OP. Why do you wish to go disc brakes? Do you have a hi-power engine or wish to drive the vehicle hard on twisty roads or track days?

Reason I ask is that a well maintained Drum system is perfectly adequate to haul a Beetle to a standstill.

Are you having a lack of performance from the vehicle or are you more used to driving a modern everyday car compared to the Beetle? A lot of people find Beetle brakes not as responsive as a modern car and hence why they think it needs upgrading.

Just a few questions to ask yourself as could end up saving you a wad of cash cos wide 5 disc brake kits are far more expensive than having to update a later 4 stud Beetle plus you have to show the engineer you wish to use for the blue plate the kit you wish to buy as if they don't like it they won't ever sign off on it 🙂

psimitar · 16 May 2013, 10:51 pm

x275 wrote:Does anyone know roughly how much the compliance will cost ?

Cheers

$120/hr is the average but you have to pay some their travel time too at the same rate.

hrastovica · 18 May 2013, 2:51 pm

Regarding compliancing, do we have to do the same in Victoria?

psimitar · 18 May 2013, 11:13 pm

hrastovica wrote:Regarding compliancing, do we have to do the same in Victoria?

Depends on Vic transports modification rulings but every state says that wheel adapters/spacers are illegal and so apart from Vintages design all others use a plate to allow the fitting of the wide 5 wheels. This means it's down to an engineer to agree the plate is a permenantly mounted part of the disc conversion and sign off on the modification.

Unfortunately every engineer sees things differently as it's their interpritation of the ADR and NCOPs. If you ever move state the blue plate could well mean nothing in the new state you live in.

x275 · 19 May 2013, 12:12 am

psimitar wrote:
1303Steve wrote:Hi

The system that Vintage Vee Dub sells is pretty good, its not Chinese junk like other people sell.

Steve

PS I beat Birchall
But the rotor is not seperate from the hub so much more expensive for future maintenance costs.

As for the OP. Why do you wish to go disc brakes? Do you have a hi-power engine or wish to drive the vehicle hard on twisty roads or track days?

Reason I ask is that a well maintained Drum system is perfectly adequate to haul a Beetle to a standstill.

Are you having a lack of performance from the vehicle or are you more used to driving a modern everyday car compared to the Beetle? A lot of people find Beetle brakes not as responsive as a modern car and hence why they think it needs upgrading.

Just a few questions to ask yourself as could end up saving you a wad of cash cos wide 5 disc brake kits are far more expensive than having to update a later 4 stud Beetle plus you have to show the engineer you wish to use for the blue plate the kit you wish to buy as if they don't like it they won't ever sign off on it 🙂

Reason I was asking was the car I was looking at for my partner has front drum brakes. I had never driven an all drum brake car so I had just assumed it would pull up like a tug boat..
But I was wrong it pulled up ok.. So I don't think I would need to do the conversion.

Cheers

psimitar · 19 May 2013, 2:13 am

x275 wrote:Reason I was asking was the car I was looking at for my partner has front drum brakes. I had never driven an all drum brake car so I had just assumed it would pull up like a tug boat..
But I was wrong it pulled up ok.. So I don't think I would need to do the conversion.

Cheers

Cool. Glad you found the brakes to be good.

May still be an idea to check the system over and pull the drums off to make sure you have no weeping cylinders and check the brake shoe linings and inner drum surfaces. Check the flexi lines for cracks etc

Flush thru with new brake fluid and then you know your wife has a nice safe vehicle to drive 🙂