Front Discs conversion

MAK · Post by **MAK** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:37 am

Hi guys,

Can you please assist with the best place or person that can assist with converting my front brakes to discs .... and more or less costing of this conversion?

Thanks
MK

Thumper · Post by **Thumper** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:56 am

Follow this thread....

http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/forum/vi ... c&&start=0

I am doing this conversion at the moment. All the installing work done by myself. I have just arranged for the hub and brackets from Calooker. Now I must get new Golf 1 discs, calipers from the scrapyard and new disc pads. Should not go to far over 1K.

MAK · Post by **MAK** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:22 pm

Thanks ... will follow soon

Thumper · Post by **Thumper** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:36 pm

Calooker has done this a few times. He had answers for every problem I came up with. Its not such a bad job to do. I can't wait to have a beetle that stops in a straight line, every time, without having to adjust the drums every month.

Post by **calooker** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:15 pm

I have done this mod on 3 rides using Golf bits, and came across some interesting points. I found that on 2 rides where I used the later Golf 1 caliper, braking was not as good as on my blue bug where I used the early Golf 1 caliper, braking performance was much better using the early type setup. Using the early Golf caliper the wheels will not lock up at all when you jump on the pedal as it did when using the later calipers. The pads of the 2 are very different the early ones are much smaller, and have a smaller area of friction, my guess is that the beetle being fairly light, has no need for the larger pads, which would bite more into the disk and lock up the wheels, under hard braking. I took a mate for a ride a while back and he was asking about the 30 year old brakes and I told him I have ABS, he laughed so I jumped on the brakes, blue bug stoped dead and he nearly hit the windshield, he is now convinced I have ABS.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:27 pm

*lol*

...makes me wonder, I have absolutely no idea whether or not I have ABS. *lol*

I'm using a Golf 2/3 setup; how would I find out Rui, short of going for a spin and standing on the brakes?

N.

Post by **calooker** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:51 pm

Nick, if I remember correctly (from what I saw) I think your ride has the OE 67 brake setup which has a pad that is similar in size to the one used in the early Golf caliper, as long as you can stop in a straight line when you activate the stop pedal then you should be OK. I have some old CAR mags which has a road test they did on a Beetle which had shorter stoping distances than a Ford Capri, and a Chev Farenza (spelling ?) the beetle ran drums in the front the other 2 have disks, I have no idea how they got that kind of braking performance, maybe the other 2 just used the hand brake

.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:04 pm

Yup, my bug has OE '67s on the front, and Golf 2/3 at the rear.

Jus' wondered if I could look to see if the Golf setup at the back had ABS.

Am I showing my ignorance again? *lol*

She stops real nice - and straight.

I still get amazed at the drums on my bus.

Firenza afaik, but I stand to be corrected.

N.

Post by **calooker** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:36 pm

Nick there is no chance you have an ABS system on your ride. A ABS system has more tech. and electronics in it than a whole bug could ever dream of having.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:58 pm

Hehe, 'k.

Got pics of your Enterprise, Tony?

N.

Post by **eben** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:14 pm

Rui I think I know what you are talking about....
I heard it somewhere as well: about the Very short stopping distance in Car magazine.

But lets face it.... when properly adjusted the drum setups comparitivly on beetles and even type IIIs are great for the first few stops and also if you dont use them all the time..... where they loose out big time is fading with tedious use and the fact that they need adjustment almost as soon as you used them the first time after a tuneup.

Do you agree?

MAK · Post by **MAK** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:33 pm

calooker wrote:I have done this mod on 3 rides using Golf bits, and came across some interesting points. I found that on 2 rides where I used the later Golf 1 caliper, braking was not as good as on my blue bug where I used the early Golf 1 caliper, braking performance was much better using the early type setup. Using the early Golf caliper the wheels will not lock up at all when you jump on the pedal as it did when using the later calipers. The pads of the 2 are very different the early ones are much smaller, and have a smaller area of friction, my guess is that the beetle being fairly light, has no need for the larger pads, which would bite more into the disk and lock up the wheels, under hard braking. I took a mate for a ride a while back and he was asking about the 30 year old brakes and I told him I have ABS, he laughed so I jumped on the brakes, blue bug stoped dead and he nearly hit the windshield, he is now convinced I have ABS.

thanks .... at the moment mines seems to have NBS (No braking system)

I think i should do the brakes after i choose the mags .. cos of the PCD changes...

Regards
MK

Post by **Tony Z** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:46 am

Thumper wrote:Calooker has done this a few times. He had answers for every problem I came up with. Its not such a bad job to do. I can't wait to have a beetle that stops in a straight line, every time, without having to adjust the drums every month.

only every month??? Mine used to be a Friday afternoon event, or after any emergency braking process.

Post by **Tony Z** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:48 am

Merlin wrote:Hehe, 'k.

Got pics of your Enterprise, Tony?

N.

you are not well.

I do have some ideas for my car, but I need a lathe, a few more tools, a bigger gargage with electricity this time and a lot of time.

Thumper · Post by **Thumper** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:04 am

Tony, I leave the brakes adjusting until the travel goes halfway to the floor. Then I adjust again. I know, it sounds insane....