Beetle Brake Seals - Can one still get just the seals

[No More Landy]

I Found a few seized brake Calipers so I decided to hone all the cylinders with my small drill operated honing stone.

I tried Midas and Shelly's, but they only sell the complete brake cylinders.

Is there anywhere I can get just the seals and dust covers still ?

[retrovan]

Try these guys they may have a shop in Cape Town, get all my seals from them

Cape Parts Distributors
· Auto parts store
11 Paterson Rd · 041 487 1471
PE

Herman

[sean]

Tonnesen's Midas should stock some of these kits.

if you don't succeed closer to you, then Good Hope Spares in Brackenfell has everything you will need.

[No More Landy]

Tried most Spares suppliers, but they only sell the complete cylinder and not the loose seals.

[No More Landy]

On another note. I found that the Larger Diameter Pistons (22.2 mm) were fitted to the rear of the vehicle and the smaller 19 mm pistons were in the front. From what I see in the parts manual it should be the other way round which makes sense considering the braking force required up front.
Am I the confused one, or did previous owner fit the replacement kits himself the wrong way round ?

[sean]

Tried most Spares suppliers, but they only sell the complete cylinder and not the loose seals.

Did you try Good Hope Spares in Brackenfell as I recommended? I buy from there and they do carry the parts!

[73type2]

Tried most Spares suppliers, but they only sell the complete cylinder and not the loose seals.

Some of the younger parts reps cannot help you if the part doesn't show on their computer. The computer probably didn't pick up the seal for your particular car and he sent you away. I have this happening to me all the time. You could try taking in your sample seal and find that they might have it after all.

[fig]

On another note. I found that the Larger Diameter Pistons (22.2 mm) were fitted to the rear of the vehicle and the smaller 19 mm pistons were in the front. From what I see in the parts manual it should be the other way round which makes sense considering the braking force required up front.
Am I the confused one, or did previous owner fit the replacement kits himself the wrong way round ?

Yes, larger cylinders in front.

And, as 73type2 says, it's best to take samples of the old seals for the parts counter guy to match.

[No More Landy]

So I assembled the brakes with new seals and put the larger diameter up front, but now it seems the one rear piston is not returning as the springs were switched around according to my manual and one seems to have been overstretched. I refitted the springs the correct way round and set the brakes and handbrake but one set of shoes is not strong enough to fully retract the pistons and there is a slight drag on one rear wheel wheel.

I will need to go get a set of springs and refit.

On another note, some time back they tried to steal one rear tyre from the beetle and were probably disturbed, and when my daughter drove off one rear wheel nearly came off which resulted in a little damage to the bolts and threads. At the time I tapped one hole to M14 x 1.5 but with all the on and off of the wheels this weekend, I ended up stripping that thread as well as two M12 x 1.5's of the remaining which means I can't drive her now.
Is it possible to re-tap all to say an M16 x 1.5 and use a bolt from another vehicle manufacturer which is similar as it seems 14 is the biggest size VW used.

I have aftermarket rims on the bug so I can open the holes if necessary. I have a feeling even tapping to M14 will not work due to the threads in the drum being so far gone already.

[Tony Z]

If the drum is flat on the inside, you can just get them redrilled in another location.
You could also consider have press in studs fitted. Studs are always better than bolts in an application like a wheel as the threads in the drum get damaged a little bit each time and eventually fail like yours did.

[No More Landy]

So if I were to change to an M14 x 1.5 wheel stud instead of drilling another set of holes, would I getaway with just opening 4 of the five holes to take the knurled diameter of an M14 stud and maybe the one M14 that I have will allow me to hammer in the remaining M14 stud without drilling any bigger ?

Still looking online to see what the diameter of the M14 Knurled section of a stud has to be to see if there is enough meat after drilling the M12 threads away to suite the Knurled bit of the stud on an M14.

[73type2]

No More Landy - Two things:
1) Did you eventually get the loose seals, and where?
2) Can't you just source another drum to sort out your hole stripping issue? All my aircooleds are still running on their original drums without any issues.

[No More Landy]

No More Landy - Two things:
1) Did you eventually get the loose seals, and where?
2) Can't you just source another drum to sort out your hole stripping issue? All my aircooleds are still running on their original drums without any issues.

1. I merely bought a complete set of Pistons with seals due to the corrosion and pitting even after I had honed the cylinders - got them at Gooie Hoop Onderdele as per a previous suggestion.

2. The drums fitted to my bug are marked "Alfa" which I see is a local brand of Brake Replacement Parts - so I assume the shoes and drum are suited to each other (Radius of Drum and Shoes) and I would prefer just to fit a new set of Studs and Nuts than buy a complete new drum and replacement Bolts unless there is a better option you could suggest.

[73type2]

I would prefer just to fit a new set of Studs and Nuts than buy a complete new drum and replacement Bolts unless there is a better option you could suggest.

I always lean more towards keeping things stock; hence sourcing an original drum or good replacement would've been my first choice. Beetle wheel studs are also not scarce. But whatever works for you is good.

[No More Landy]

I went to Flat Four Racing and just bought a set of M14 full threaded studs and then drilled and tapped a new set of holes in between the worn out holes at a friend's machineshop. I closed off the old holes with some left over sump gasket maker. Nice and sturdy now, rims fitted over the studs easily.
Thanks all.

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