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how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:14 pm
by FastyLee
I have a set of tsw 16x7 (5x100mm) wheels for the fastback. I know i need to have the rotors and drums re patterned, but what about the center collar? The modern car have that small hub, the fastback has one a lot larger. I placed them as flat against the disc as i could to get a preview.

Re: how to fit 16x7 wheels on fastback
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:34 pm
by Piledriver
Most real wheel shops (NOT tire shops) can open up the wheel centers for the larger hubcenter.
I STRONGLY encourage you to keep the wheels/hubs with that feature, I even added it to my rear hubs, got rid of all the wobbles. (turned the rear hub down straight and pressed on an aluminum ring)
You MAY be able to turn down the rotors, but I have no idea what size those are.
That's going to look awesome BTW, I tried to find a set like that myself, but there's too many ricers looking too.
Re: how to fit 16x7 wheels on fastback
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:06 pm
by FastyLee
Looks like if I buy New rotors the centering ring is smaller.....anybody know for sure?
I looked on CB Performance and Rock Auto websites.
Re: how to fit 16x7 wheels on fastback
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 12:11 am
by Piledriver
FastyLee wrote:Looks like if I buy New rotors the centering ring is smaller.....anybody know for sure?
I looked on CB Performance and Rock Auto websites.
I would be that replacement parts are exactly that.
What are the dimensions for the wheels and current rotors?
Re: how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:49 pm
by Corysvdub
Got 17x7's on mine with discs front and rear
Re: how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:15 pm
by Piledriver
I meant re: the hubcentric rings/holes.
(Edit--- Looks sweet!)
Re: how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:46 pm
by FastyLee
Pile driver,
what did u have to do with the rotors? My stocks have a big ass ring around
The bearing cap. What about rear drums? I was thinking about SB rears...they're one piece I think.
At least run this until I throw on rear discs.
Re: how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:35 pm
by aircooledtechguy
FastyLee wrote:
what did u have to do with the rotors? My stocks have a big ass ring around
The bearing cap.
You will need to have a machinist chuck-up the two front wheels in a lathe and have the inner I.D. of the wheel opened up so that they just fit over the "hub-centric" rib around the bearing cap. This is a safety feature that was added to later rotors and drums to help center the wheel.
Wheel spacers can be used if you need to move them outwards.
Re: how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:23 pm
by Piledriver
The rears need to have the rear hubs turned in a lathe and a "hub centric" ring pressed on and turned to size, I posted pics IIRC on the T3 forums somewhere.
I do not know if the SB drums will fit a T3 other than the splines matching
(I very much doubt it, the T3 rear brakes are much larger) and they are not hub centric.
I'm just running late 914 Mahles, so the rears match the fronts, as has been said, any good wheel shop can turn the wheels for the larger hub.
It matters, and IMHO is well worth doing.
Re: how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:38 am
by FastyLee
I looked at the back of the wheels....not enough material to open the center. the bolt pattern is 5x100, a little narrow. Might have the scrap the wheel idea until i get rear discs.
Re: how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:17 pm
by Chris V
Lots of people use plastic or aluminum hubcentric adapters...We had our machinest modify some aluminum studded spacers so they are Super Beetle hubcentric on the rotor side and Porsche on the rim side.
http://wheelbible.com/center-bore
For my asphalt ACVW late model I had the machinest make some 4-108mm Type III drums that had the snouts turned down to accept a collar...so I could use common circletrack rims for a Mustang II/Pinto.
For the Beetle IRS my buddy and I built for his circle track Rabbit...we chose Type III drums studded 4-100, they just fit inside of the 13x8 rims.

Re: how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 8:47 pm
by FastyLee
SO i'm gonna get a hold of some SB rear drums and shoes and see how they fit. Just gonna get rid of the whole rear hub crap. At least until i can afford rear discs. the price much cheaper to drill those SB drums than turning down T3 hubs, drilling new pattern on drum and hub. i think i'll be ok with the narrower drums for braking power. As for fronts?.....gonna go with new aftermarket discs. There is not a huge ring around the bearing cap. That is the only plausible way with my wheels as i cannot open up the inside of the wheel for accommodation of type 3 ring.
Unless someone HAS done this and there were catastrophic problems?
Mike
Re: how do I fit 16x7 wheels on fastback?
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:12 pm
by Chris V
Generally speaking most people like to upgrade the brakes on their 40 year old cars...curious sacrifice for styling.
In the past on our Beetles (w/40mm shoe rear drums) we've used larger-bore front wheel cylinders (`65+ are 'best') to give more rear brake...Even when running Type III rear drums on a Beetle we'll use larger "Super Beetle front wheel cylinders" (`71+Super as well as very early Type III).