I finally gave up on trying to get my '64 Karmann Ghia to stop nicely with the stock drum brakes, It would only pass the brake meter test at rego time if I adjusted the brakes up so tight that you couldn't push the car, and the brakes were not in bad condition.


Stock drums

I decided to fit a Vintage VeeDub Supplies wide 5 disc brake kit. it bolts onto a stock king and link front end and moves the front track 6mm inward on each side, a bonus with a Ghia and alloy wheels.



This is the kit, has everything you need, I gave the discs a quick coat of black paint before I installed them.

The kit is very easy to install, everything bolts up as it should, didn't have to modify or clearance anything.


Caliper braket bolts to the original backing plate bolt holes.



The wide 5 disc in place, kit also comes with these cool alloy pinch nuts that replace the original double nut system.



Caliper is a PBR unit and bolts up neatly with new flexible lines that are supplied in the kit.


The discs are nice and thick, the kit weighs about 2.5kgs heavier each side than the stock drums and backing plates do, the So-Cal kit is very heavy at about 5-6Kg heavier each side.


A shot from under the front, Pads use all the disc unlike my CB kit which uses about 80% if the disc, a very poor design the rest is just extra weight unused.

I retained the original single circuit master cylinder as it is not very old, the new brakes blead up very easily and gave better pedal than the drums ever did straight up.
After a quick blat around the block to bed the pads in I couldn't be happier with this kit, it has changed the feel of the car, it stops smoothly without the drum brake shudder and feels a lot safer, the extra 6mm in off set also stops the front tyre picking up on the guard in tight turns.

It was a pleasure to fit a kit that required nothing, just a very simple bolt off and bolt on, and modify nothing.

I have fitted a So-Cal kit before, they are very heavy, and it didn't bolt up with out modification. I had to tap some wheel stud threads as they were missed when manufactured.

I also have a CB performance alloy wide 5 kit on my Beetle, the disc and hub are good but the rest is just crap, the front calipers are Brazilian junk and flex so badly when you hit the brakes you cannot get a hard pedal.

The VVD Kit may cost a little more, but it is much better, well designed and simple to fit.
Sorry if this all sounds like an advert for Vintage Vee Dub but I had a great morning in the shed fitting this up and it works better than I expected it would.
Dave

Dave,

Looks like a nice piece of kit. I wonder how much price difference there is with this kit and the CSP one?

Just one thing, with disk brakes I think you need to change the master cylinder. Drum brakes retain some residual pressure so there isn't as much pedal travel when you hit the brakes. Disk brake masters have a valve on the front circuit to let the calipers return fully.

Cheers

Steve

Hi

Nice to hear a good story about modified VW parts, Birchall must be asleep or up the pub. A 1500 dual circuit master would be a good addition.

Steve

I installed these on my beetle 18 months ago and I would advise this as the best mod you can do for the early beetle.
I have owned and daily driven early beetles and spilts for 30 years and agree wit Menangler re the VVDS KIT. 40 Mins install and the early beetle finally stops like a new car
I also have dual circuit Master cylinder and Type three rears on my 65 and I recommend these for all earlys
local means accountability
worth heaps nowadays

p.s the best mod you can do is great insuance

If you bump into an antique porsche full of barristers, be assured will be very expensive.
in the legal world, the person with the least money loses

so Dave you sound so happy with your brakes that you need one of these shirts.....


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=70873 


any T-shirt people out there want to print them?

mine didn't come from VVDS, but i have had some trouble keeping those pinch nuts on............the allen key lock bolts needs to be really tight. check them guys.

nice kit there, wish i was still wide five with this sort of stuff available.

Nice setup, whats the kit sell for?

Looking good Dave, I've never known you to slow a car down. Getting Old.

Your ghia seriously rocks, makes me miss mine.

This is the same kit I fitted to my '63 project Beetle, and I agree with Dave that VVDS supply this kit for easy installation. This kit also doesn't widen the wheel track. A twin circuit master cylinder is definitely the best bet with front disc brakes.

lots of developement there

Out of interest the cap seems to sit a long way from the face - or does it just look different

Can you keep say caps on BRMs??

No, not standard BRM flat caps. You'll need to source 'middle sized' centre caps. They are available, but you will have to shop around. I tried buying some tall centre caps, usually sold for buses, and cutting them down to size, but the finish wasn't perfect.

Dave (Birchall) , do you know if Boris has any plans to make these up for a splitty?

Thanks

Steve

Steve

I will ask the question but i dont think so due to cost involved in patterns, casting and machining

Does anybody know how these brakes compare to the Volksconversion / John Sherman wide 5 kit?

theres no comparision these work as they were designed to do

Do you know if these are available to suit the early type 3? ('65) I have a set of '69 disc brake spindles/calipers I could use but would like to stay with the wide 5 pattern.

I wonder if these could be machined so that they would fit on a splitty. I expect that the spindle hole would have to be opened up to accept the bigger splitty bearings, and a new caliper bracket making up. I wonder if Boris will have a set at the Nationals?

Steve

Steve

from memory i think the splitty stub axle is longer so it wouldnt fit in the hole

Also the bearings are bigger in dia so there may not be enough meat to allow the fit

whats the kit worth dave? is there a rear kit available too?

I dont know what the kit is worth ring the shop for a price

Yes they can build you a rear set up as well

Don't quote me on this, but when I was in the shop last I think its was about $1300. But as Dave said, ring the shop to be sure.

Kevin

Does anyone know if this kit be used with 2.5" drop spindles?

I asked Boris the same question it needs to be used with stock VW spindles