disc brakes

[plynch]

anyone know if the front brakes from a 914 will fit in a ball joint or super beetle front disc brake spindles?

[Piledriver]

IIRC, no. I believe the rears can be adapted (for the rear)

There may be adapters for the front, but I'd pick something a little more common, like calipers off of a Golf or such.

A car witha 30/70 weight bias really doesn't need immense brakes up front and drums in the back...

The 914 caliper bolt spacing is different. (914 bolts farther apart, not sure about the offset to the rotor)

If you were looking to go TO 914, the BMW 320 or 2002Ti (and maybe Volvo 240?) ones fit with only minimal mods on the 73+ cars, machine 1/8" off the mounting surface.

They bolt on 71-72 cars I have read.(both of mine are 74s)

Whatever you do, don't go huge on the front without also doing so in the rear... Brake balance is terribly important from a safety standpoint.

When I put the 2002Ti fronts on/stock rears, the front would lock WAY early. I ended up putting the original fronts on the back, and it stops, NOW, rain or shine. Too bad about the parking brake...

[tallqball]

I second the balance point! I have a Bradley GT, 1050 lbs rear, 600 front. I made a rear disc kit using 914 rotors and 411 front calipers. BIG difference. Months later I put on a Ghia front disc set up. No stopping difference, but a softer pedal. It did look better to have 4 wheel disc though. I used a 914 proportioning valve. Make sure you have the fronts lock up before the rears. I had to brake hard once downhill, and the backs locked up first...

[raygreenwood]

Also...take a look at the 411/412 brake upgrade thread from Wally in teh411/412 forum. He's doing very nice work. The 411/412 uses teh identical front brakes as teh 914. Maybe some of his ideas will cross over. Ray