Just wanted to know if any one is running a set of the Empi 15 x5.5 et 35 reproduction 2 litre rims on a early super.
Just wanting to know if they clear the disc calipers. I have been getting some conflicting infomation and wanted to find out from someone first hand.
Cheers Brad.

they should clear the calliper as the only difference in the ones you want to fit and the empi 8 spokes is an offset of 5. ie they have 35 and the 8s are 30. radially they should be fine it will only be the offset that may get you but saying that 5mm isnt really that much on a rim in difference
also be prepared that they may stick out of the stock guards

Actually empi 8 has ET of 20mm

Empi 8 repoops have been made by that many different companies over the years there's a variety of offsets out there.


Offset isn't the issue when it comes to caliper clearance though, it's the way the rims were cast.

The spokes on Empi 8s bow outwards slightly from the hub to the rim so there is plenty of clearance there for calipers where as rims like the 914s have a very flat face which is where the interference comes from.

Classic example of that is a set of 7" et38 rims I've got that have dish with flat spokes, they dont fit many cars without spacers cos they hit calipers, yet another set are 7" et45 so are 7mm further in the guards yet you can fit your hand between the caliper and the spokes.

Brad, 165 tyres would sit perfectly under stock guards on those rims, 185s in a pinch but may rub abit

after punching the numbers into a rim offset calculator the 2 litres will come out by 19mm compaired to my stock et 41 rims at the front and 7mm at the back with stock et 34s.i may have to raise the front back up a little i think. I would love to hear from someone who has fitted these wheels

hey joel,like you said its the rims lack of profile curve that might be the problem. I have read that some have fitted these rims onto disc brake ghia's no problems but others had clearence issues.i dont know how ghia caliper/rotors differ from t1 and i cant find a conclusive answer as usa beetles didnt come with disc's. Thanks all.

It depends on what calipers are fitted too.

Seems most US bound disc brake cars had Girling calipers yet most stuff here we got had ATE calipers


Bit hard to see with the rim on but the ATE calipers on my bug stick out abit further passed the hub face and have a small nipple in the center which is part of the piston bore, thats what causes most interference.
When I had my old zeptors on you would be hard pressed to slip a buisness card between the wheel spokes and the calipers.




The old Lbug paddock basher for some reason had Girling calipers, probably replaced at some point in its life.
Not as easy to pick but the Girling calipers don't stick out as far and dont have the little nipple in the center either.

i have the ate calipers.i was reading that a few guys had to grind that bump down to clear the rim. Again, this was on US ghia's. Guess i just get the rim's and "make" them fit.

Also.....you may need to confirm whether they are Hub Centric or not.

I know that the Pedrinis, on the earlier 914s were changed mid-model (1700/1800), from Lug-Centric to Hub-Centric.

I guess that it would be fair to presume that all 914 130x4 hubs were made Hub-Centric from then, forward.
Guessing again, I expect that all repros intended for 914s from that change-over time, would have been Hub-Centric as well.
Maybe, there could have been versions of repros made specifically for the Beetle market, that were NOT Hub-Centric? I don't know.

The standard VeeDub discs can (must) be machined to fit Hub-Centric wheels. I have seen Hub-Centric AdaptorRings, but don't think that they are of any use on the VW standard disc.

Yes oldtub, the Empi and other repro 2 litre wheels are made for late model beetle application. A straight bolt on as far as 4x 130 disc/drums are concerned.
Its just the issue with caliper clearence that is troubling me. Its an expensive mistake if I find they foul on the calipers.

Sooo, anyone running these wheels on discs?

Just an update for anyone that was intrested in this thread.
Here are some pics of the Ate calipers (two bleeder) that are fitted to my 1972 S Beetle.
I am not sure if these are the og. factory fitted calipers or if they had been replaced at some point in time before I bought the car.
As you can see my calipers dont have the little bump on the outside of the casting like the Ate calipers seen in Joels pic. If I run a straight edge across the rotor mounting face the caliper body sticks out about 1-2 mm.
They have Ate, the number 8 and a VW logo cast into the body.

Well, I went ahead and ordered a set of Empi detailed 914 rims from Vollks.com. Lets see how they go.

what shape are Your disc pads??

I though all factory disc pads were the square type...

but have seen New ATE calipers on beetles with "normal" long type of disc pads...

[normal being japanese cars]

LEE

I think I read somewhere that Girling brakes were used in the factory on beetles..??
as I thought it was a bit odd... at the time....

Lee

Good chance yours are probably original calipers, mine aren't I replaced them about 11 years ago.

Oddly enough the Lbug paddock basher is the only one I've struck with Girling calipers, every other disc brake bug I've owned has had ATEs
But how many 30 year old cars still have original brakes anyway.


So you went the black and chromes?
they look awesome on a super

Hey Lee, the brake pads are just the stock square ones with the 2 ears on top for the pins.

From what I can gather in the US Girlings were used on Ghia's after 71 and Ate's before 71. Not sure we followed that trend specifically on our S & L Beetles. Maybe we had surplus Ate's that continued for a few years after 71? Not really sure whats better about the Girlings but the rebuild kits are cheaper and include the 2 orings that are found inside the two halfs.

Yes Joel, I got a set of the Black/polished 914's. I dig them heaps.

So while I wait for the rims here's some 914 porn. mostly late standards.

Fully polished. Same colour as my 72. Diamond Blue

Yay, Fatchick

Got the rims this arvo. Thanks Vollks.com that was super quick!
Happy to report that there is no clearance issues with the calipers.
There is in fact a good 12mm gap. The ball joint threads needed to be ground off flush with the nut though.
I ended up putting some nice gouges on a third of the inside of the front rims before it clicked that there were some clearence issues.
I did actually check it up on the jack but guess what? Yeah, the ball joint angles change when its back on the ground. DOH! The gouges are only minor and cant see them so ,whatever. F'in idiot!
One of the back axels needs a little touch with a grinder as the cap does not quite snap in flush. Minor issues.

Where are the pics?

pics. Before and after.

sweet

Looks brilliant!