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drum brake backing plate thickness
beatman11 - September 7th, 2016 at 12:35 PM

Hi All,

I am wanting to know the thickness of a drum brake backing plate (where it bolts between the axle and bearing cap cover/holder) for a 63 beetle.

The reason is I have an oval beetle with empi rear disc brakes (don't laugh they were on the car when I bought it) and there is a lot of slop where the axle bearing sits (in and out) I think I have the wrong bearing caps fitted as per note on the sparse empi fitting instructions I found online - does anyone have empi rear discs fitted on a pre 60 beetle - what bearing caps are you using?

Cheers

nbturbo - September 7th, 2016 at 05:32 PM

Pretty sure they are 5mm thick at the mounting face.I have done rear disc brake conversions using ED Falcon bits- I reckon the Falcon stuff is 6mm, so I had to mill 1 mm from the caliper bracket- been a while though

psimitar - September 8th, 2016 at 02:48 PM

Yea, about 5mm in total. Not surprised the Empi bracket is renowned for flexing cos 5mm for a caliper bracket is worthy of VolksConversions.

Anyway, are you sure it's the bearings moving? it's normally a pretty tight fit in the tube hub and bearing cap. If definitely the beaing moving then you'll have to get a wider outer spacer made plus a shim for the inside of the bearing cap.

Old Dubber - September 9th, 2016 at 08:54 AM

Just measured my set at 5mm

beatman11 - September 9th, 2016 at 11:57 AM

Awesome thankyou for the info guys - the empi caliper plate is 6mm - so there is problem number one for me - off to find a milling machine. Then I will see if I have the correct bearing caps next

Cheers

psimitar - September 9th, 2016 at 01:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by beatman11
Awesome thankyou for the info guys - the empi caliper plate is 6mm - so there is problem number one for me - off to find a milling machine. Then I will see if I have the correct bearing caps next

Cheers


Even 6mm is pretty thin for a caliper bracket.

As far as I'm aware there is only Swing and IRS type of bearing cap. I think IRS outer bearing is thicker than the SA bearing. So IRS cap may be deeper but if you had it fitted to a swing then the outer spacer would sit inboard of the bearing seal and make your axle tube leak like crazy.