4 Bolt Versus 5 Bolt

What is the history if the 5 bolt to 4 bolt pattern? Does anyone know why they changed it, was it a cost savings issue?

The wheels that I tend to like seem to always be 5 bolt, and so I was wondering if I should convert mine.

Do those conversion plates work okay? Any drawbacks to using them?

How much width do they add and does that cause clearance issues?

Thanks for any info.

"Wide 5s". Da bomb.

The problem with wheel adapters is there are more bolts to keep torqued and the width (typically 1/2-3/4") they add on each side. Wide 5 drums from a 66-67 beetle (ball joint front axle) will fit; get the complete brake assemblies and I don't remember off hand what bearings work.

PS- All VW's for the 1968 model year came with 4 bolt drums and wheels; I don't know the reason for the change.

Cole, stay away from wheel adapters.
You will need to switch bolt patterns and that can be expensive, especially if you go from a 4 bolt to wide 5 bolt pattern. Going from a 4 bolt to a 5 bolt (not wide 5) is less expensive, but still not cheap.

The rear is easy, just change drums. Front, not so much, unless you have drums in front also. Then you could just change drums there too. Discs in front to wide5 will cost some money. Then you need wheels with the same offset to match the fit and backspacing of your old setup. It is worth the look, but that is up to you!

Wide 5's do take special adapter to balance them too --- not all tire places have it. I wonder if change was due to tubeless tires - perhaps 4 bolt introduced tubeless?

67 was the first year VW offered optional disk brakes and they changed to 4x130 in 68 when they changed from swing axle to irs. Probably was a cost saving measure as the 4 lug drums/disks have less material and machine work than the 5 lug. Porsche changed to 5x130 in 64 when they moved to disk brakes.

Actually 68s were swing axle 4 bolt. I had one. VW didn't change to IRS until late in 68 and definitely 69.

Ah, you're right, the IRS in 68 was only with the autostick. 69 was IRS on all US models.

Here is a wide-5 wheel balancer adapter.
http://www.mainelycustombydesign.com/wheels_suspension.html
Jeff