brake converion

I have a 70 beetle and just bought brake pads for the front disk brakes. I didn't realise how small they are. They are only about half the size of other disk pads that I have seen.Is there an easy/ cheap conversion out there where I can swap the calipers off something else (later beetle , kombi etc ) without changing anything else.
Thanks

Easy AND cheap,NO.Relatively easy and expensive YES.🙂

Don't get too carried away too quickly (I did, and I'm still going...)

I would say first up (like others said to me)
Do they stop you?
If not, why not. VW brakes are actually good when they are in good order.

So that being the case I would encourage you to replace worn parts so they are in top order. You may well be suprised. I also found that the Ferrodo pads I had worked very well.

Then if you still want more fit the drums off a Type 3, as they're quite a bit bigger and have bigger wheel cylinders. As beetles are quite rear wieght biased you'll find this conversion works a treat.

Cheers
Jeremy

Why do u want to change them they work dont they

Yes they work but I thought bigger has to be better when you are talking about brakes. I will put the new pads in and see how they go .
Thanks

The brakes are carefully designed to stop the car as quickly and safely as possible. Keep in mind that a Beetle only weighs around 850kg, much less than most modern cars, even small ones.
Bigger is generally better (more stopping power and better heat dissipation) but putting bigger brakes on without changing anything else will upset the balance of the car. It will increase your chances of locking up the brakes, which decreases stopping power. Many modern cars which have the bigger pads you mentioned have ABS.

Bigger may not always be better.

Like PurpleT3 mentions you can upset your balance. For instance if you fit larger fronts you may end up with the fronts being hard on while the rears are hardly working. Often with this scenario you will increase your stopping distances!!! (as you end up with only 2 brakes working well instead of 4)

Have a read of this
http://www.grmotorsports.com/brakes.html

And there was another article that explained what I mentioned above but I have no idea where I read it... Have a hunt with google.

Here it is here 😉
http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/rear_brake_upgrade_is_bigger_better120601.htm

CU
Jeremy

[Edited on 17-9-2004 by Jeza]

[Edited on 17-9-2004 by Jeza]

Thanks fellas