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brake converion
stevosky - September 16th, 2004 at 08:53 PM

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

lugnuts - September 17th, 2004 at 02:36 AM

Easy AND cheap,NO.Relatively easy and expensive YES.:)

Jeza - September 17th, 2004 at 06:54 AM

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

vw54 - September 17th, 2004 at 07:09 AM

Why do u want to change them they work dont they

stevosky - September 17th, 2004 at 12:38 PM

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

PurpleT3 - September 17th, 2004 at 01:11 PM

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.

Jeza - September 17th, 2004 at 02:46 PM

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...

CU
Jeremy

[Edited on 17-9-2004 by Jeza]

[Edited on 17-9-2004 by Jeza]

stevosky - September 26th, 2004 at 08:16 PM

Thanks fellas