Brakes

[kansasmadmax]

Would like to know if type3 front disc brakes will work on a type1 drum brake front end?

[Marc]

No. Type III Spindles are different and non-interchangeable with Type I.
There are actually two versions of the Type III disc brake; from `66 through early `72 the calipers and rotors can be used if you fit Karmann-Ghia spindles - late`72-`73 Type III calipers have a wider bolt pattern and different rotor offset.

The Type I disc brake conversion kits on the market typically use the `66-`71½ Type III calipers; these are slightly larger than the (obsolete) early `Ghia single-pin calipers so they may yield a little too much front brake bias when paired with stock Beetle rear drum brakes. Larger `65-up front wheel cylinders will fit `68-up rear brakes and help the front/rear balance, or you can go all-in and bolt on Type III rear drum brakes.

Note that in early`68 all Type I and IIIs got larger tierod ends, and larger-I.D. inner wheel bearings and grease seals - if you swap spindles between early & late you'll need to use the appropriate parts.

[kansasmadmax]

Thanks for the info i really need the type1 drums but when i went to the junkyard all they had was 2 type stationwagons and no bugs for the 1st time after going to the same junkyard for more than 10 years.BTW it's for a homemade project that will only have rear brakes i only need the drum to be able to mount the front wheel.

[Marc]

...BTW it's for a homemade project that will only have rear brakes i only need the drum to be able to mount the front wheel.

Well, that's another story. The Type III rotors will fit on balljoint Beetle spindles, just be sure to use the correct inner bearing and grease seal.
The tierod end nuts take a 17mm wrench on the early setup, 19mm on the late.

The minimum thickness allowed when turning the rotors is 8.5mm (.335") and the wear limit is 8mm (.315") - that tidbit might help you negotiate the price.

[kansasmadmax]

Thank you for that info now i can go back to the junkyard thats close to me.

[kansasmadmax]

Problem solved went back to my junkyard and they had just got a 68 bug,now i know i got the right part.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Kansasmadmax; if you only need them to mount wheels you could even find some real cheap un-turn-able drums and have the outer portion of the drum turned off to make hubs out of them.



I cut the drum part off at the start of the hub part, put in new bearings, races and seals then added some screw in studs; this was done between 10 and 15+ years ago. While I really should replace the screw-in studs with press-in studs just to be safer but after several years use out on the dunes they have held up just like they are.

When I took the brake surfaces off I removed a whole bunch of weight which you may or may not make a difference to you.

Lee

[kansasmadmax]

Nope i actually want the weight am in the process of building a light duty homemade tractor using what i have laying around.A pro built swingaxle,esslinger adapter to use a 2.3 Ford,balljoint front end from my Baja.I love to fab and weld so this is a fun project.

[Bruce2]

The Type I disc brake conversion kits on the market typically use the `66-`71½ Type III calipers; these are slightly larger than the (obsolete) early `Ghia single-pin calipers ......

Marc, I thought the early Ghia single pin calipers were a 40mm piston, the same as early Type 3. Is this not correct?
Did the last Type 3s use Type 4 front brakes?

[Ian Godfrey]

I think ghia 1 and 2 pin 'ate' style are 40mm.
Type 3, eary style 2 pin are 42mm. externally they look very similar. but the 42mm rebuild kits are harder to find

[Marc]

Did the last Type 3s use Type 4 front brakes?

Late III and early (`71/`72) IV brakes are the same. I think they use the same caliper on the rear of 914s also.
Single-pin 'Ghia calipers and Varga `66-`71½ Type III calipers are 40mm.
OEM Ate `66-`71½ Type III are 42mm.
I dunno what Girling late 'Ghia, late III/early IV, or `73/`74 IV are off the top of my head, would have to do some research. There's also FTE German and Chinese versions of the `66-`71½ III caliper - dunno what size the FTEs are and I've heard that there are no rebuild kits available for the Chinese, they're throwaways that come in the cheapest disk-brake conversion kits.