oval front brakes q

OK, so I am pulling a part and cleaning up a front end so that I can bring my oval home (and putting it back together with worn out but clean parts) and I have discovered a what the???.
The two brakes are different. One has the 2 bolt wheel cylinder, the other has single bolt. The pictures I have in an official factory work book given to apprentices match the pictures in my 1956 scientific publication (gregorys) manual both show an identical picture of 4 bolt wheel cylinders? I didnt know they existed! The 2 bolt side has riveted brake shoes, the other has bonded.

What is correct on a 56?

Another what the??? is the beam. It has locating lugs for the steering box, but they are on the left hand side. Do I have a LHD front end or are they all like that in the CKD kits?

looks like some one has done a change a few years ago

origionally they were 2 bolt wheel cyclinders and rivited shoes

If you want to keep the origional you will have to get the stainless steel sleeved and also find another backing plate and cyclinder

but you will get bonded linings as no one rivets them anymore

or find another single bolt backing plate and swap

the 4 bolt wheel cylinders are for the 54 model I think

hmm dilemma. The springs and adjusters are different as well so not just a matter of drilling two more holes and welding one up. I want to keep it original. How many sets of spare 2 bolt set ups do you have birchall? I need a right hand side.

Dont they make 2 bolt ones anymore?

You can still get the parts you need, you just need to ring around.
I'll have the parts here somewhere.
I have a few OG boxes of brake shoes with rivits if your thinking of still having the brakes this way.

i got 4 bolt cylinders on my 54' [well the back plates are vw] i got porsche 356A speedster drum brakes all round set up on mine,the 54' deffo had 4 bolt cylinders though.....

you need the 2 bolt backing plates and wheel cyclinders and all the springs n stuff

also check the brake drums as there different

We can find the bits just might take some looking

german 2 bolt cylinders are on the http://www.jbugs.com site, assuming they are in stock. At US$70, nearly 3 times dearer than the cheaper version. + shipping + dollar conversion.. Wish I still worked at BHP Stainless so I could resleeve my own. I have managed to locate a complete 2 bolt side in my boxes of crap though its quite crusty. I guess if I can clean the brake line thread and remove the bleeder without breaking it, then all will be OK for reconditioning.

But with this new found discovery a new question is raised. It seems I would have put the whole thing on upside down and back to front had I been given a box full of new clean parts. Is the wheel cylinder really on the trailing side down the bottom? How the hell do you bleed it with the nipple on the bottom???? Thats just plain bizarre. No wonder they lost the war.

I need August to come along so I can get that Bentley birthday present.