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beetle - which brakes
Jiffy - April 29th, 2011 at 11:17 AM

Hi Guys,
My brakes are starting to make a bit of a noise during light braking, so I think I'll start by replacing the pads... only one problem, I don't know what brakes it has.

When I bought it, I was told it had been converted to subaru disks. On looking further, I noticed the back has wheel nuts while the front has bolts, so I'm guessing it actually has VW disks on the front and subaru on the back.

Can anyone confirm this? What year beetles had front disks as standard?

Also, could anyone point me in the direction to figure out what model of subaru the back is likely to come from? All I know so far is that they are a single pot and appear to be about the same size and stud pattern as the disks on the front. Is there perhaps somewhere on them I should look for a part number to help?

vwo60 - April 29th, 2011 at 12:35 PM

remove the pads and take them to a brake place and they will be able to identify them

Joel - April 29th, 2011 at 12:59 PM

If you have empi 8 spokes front and back (assuming the avatar is your bug?) then its bug 4x130 all round

Looks to be a 1500 bug so probably stock single pin ATE calipers on the front

Can you get a pic of the front and rear calipers?

Jiffy - April 29th, 2011 at 02:51 PM

Hi Joel,
Thanks for the advise. Yes, they are Empi 8's.
I'm not sure of the year of the pan, so I'm a little sketchy on details.
The car has a 1500 in it (now 1836) and I think that's what it originally had too.


I had a look and the rear calipers just have "AD7H" written on them. I can't see anything else.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/jiffbox/th_IMAG0007.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/jiffbox/th_IMAG0005.jpg

The fronts have "ARG" on them and "V1502"
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/jiffbox/th_IMAG0004.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/jiffbox/th_IMAG0003.jpg

Joel - April 29th, 2011 at 03:03 PM

Well the fronts are ATE calipers, you just need to see if they are twin pin or single, there was a mix in Aus most pads are DB15 twin pin but occasionally you get the DB23 single pin pads.

Those rears are a mystery but like VWO60 said a brake shop will soon match the pads up.

Looking at that part number though they come up as being GTi-R Pulsar/ NX Coupe jobbies.

The body of your bug is definately a 68-70 1500 but pan could be anything

Is it swing axle or IRS?

Jiffy - July 5th, 2011 at 10:54 PM

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the information.

I'm just about to order a set of DB15's, thanks for that.
As for the rears, you're right, they turned out to be Nissan NX Coupe brakes. I replaced the pads and they're great.

Joel, it's a swing axle.