Swapping rear drum brakes for discs

I have a VS with discs in front and drums at the rear.

Since 60% or more of the braking uses the front, will I benefit by swapping out drums for discs in rear? Anybody with a VS done this swap yet? Much difference in braking?

Next wide 5s---can I keep 'em? Can anyone steer me to a site where I can see a conversion kit?


What promps this is a semi-panic stop on the way to Carlisle last year. A very exciting and swervy stop.


Thanks for any advice----Jack

Jack, I asked this same question prior to the build of my car, and I am still asking it. The unanimous consensus was that our cars don't NEED rear discs, so I didn't spec them. However, all of the brake pulling that I experienced has been due to the manual adjustment of the rear brakes, a task that I suck at. That's the main reason that I still want rear discs - well, that and bragging rights.

Has anyone done a wide 5 setup using rear type 3 drums? I found a website with some info about a sawp and was really shocked at the physical size difference between the type 3 and type 1 rear drums. Does anyone know if the type 3 drums are comparable to old 356 drums?

Land--I'm sorta thinking like you regarding wether we need rear discs or not.

Danny weighed my car at Carlisle and it was about 1670 pounds so I'm kinda thinking that if it's so light wouldn't my present front discs / rear drums be ample?

I don't remember ever hearing of a VS owner swapping the rear drums for discs.

The originals were drums all around, weren't they?

Who out there has discs all around? Any comments on wether rear discs make much improvement?

---Jack

Jack, it's more like 80%

Rear disc's are nice, shed water much better than drums, don't require adjustment and look cool

If you're relatively satisified with your current stopping power then leave your car alone. If you do decide to switch, you'll see only a bare minimum of increased stopping power. In my opinion, not worth the work and cost involved to switch.

The early NA 944 rear brakes are a bolt on. This would give you vented rotors on the back w/parking brake. Getting the matching front setup is not as easy ($$$). It's probably overkill for a 1600lb street car, but it sure would be nice to have for drivers ed events, etc... You would also need to go to a set of 5x130 wheels (no wide 5) with the 944 setup, so there is some more $$$.

I have the 944 setup for my build, but I'm debating on using some kind of wide 5 setup instead. By all accounts, the 356 B drums are more than adequate for these cars. If I can find a wide setup that works as well as a set of 356 drums and uses easily available off the shelf parts, I'll probably go that route. The type 3 rear drums look real promising. I just don't know what to do for the fronts, or how much the entire setup would cost.

Jack,
I share Larry's opinion.
I have discs on all fours and they work well, plus I don't have to do any adjusting. However, with IRS the discs added an inch in width which makes it nearly impossible to run a 5.5 deep offset wide-five wheel.
Leave it alone or do the 356B drum treatment.

I do, and it does make a difference. I have one (red)with disc's up front and my black speedy has front and rear discs. Better....

Shuie - can you post the link to the site for the T-3 swap

I have disc brakes at the four corners and I'm glad I do. SAS cars come equipped with them and they me stop straight and strong. My particular setup does require a lot of pedal pressure, but I can deal with that. Being one of the "fat boys" in the crowd at 2335 # as weighed on Danny's scales at Carlisle, I'm pleased that I have them.

Here you go, Robert:

http://www.aircooledvwaddiction.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=42

Look at the size of the ghia drums!!!!

Jack,

I also called Kirk at VS and ran this by him before getting the new motor and he was pretty adamant that I don

FWIW I have VW IRS and disk brakes all around. Car stops very well: quickly, straight and w/out fade to notice, and a hard pedal. Disk brakes are the better technological idea, IMHO, while drums do work well enough. At the rear of a thing as light as a Speedster, disks work better, weigh less, are easier to maintain and replace linings as needed.

Po-TAY-to, Po-TAH-to...

Kelly---I'm thinking like you especially after an incident I had on a recent road trip I was on I-40 and had to make a quick stop for cars suddenly stopping ahead. It wasn't a panic stop but damned close. Very exciting to say the least and my heart was beating pretty fast. It was an effort to keep the car pointed straight ahead
while getting it stopped. I never want to repeat that.

So--I just ordered the rear disc brake kit from C.B. Performance in the Porsche 5 lug style plus it retains the emergency brake. My car is on a '68 VW pan so I ordered the Part # 4358 with 914 rotors and
performance OEM calipers. It is supposed to "bolt right on". At $669.95 it wasn't cheap but I'll trade dollars for safety anytime. I know I don't "need" 'em but there has to be an additional amount of safety margin which will be a benefit.

The Type IV engine will weigh 40# more than my present engine so with the additional weight in the rear maybe the discs will be more of an improvement over using them with a type I engine. I'll report back later to relate how well the car stops with discs on all 4 wheels.

--Jack

Looking forward to the report Jack - I may add the same as I am still building mine and not to the rear brakes yet.

Jack, I took the rear discs off of our car for a couple reasons. One was a part failure with the CB Wide-5 rears, and the other turned out to be not enough oomph in the master cylinder.
Do yourself a favor, and really take a hard look at what kind of brake pedal assemblies are out there; you'll probably want the two-plunger type.
I've spoken with several people since the cracks in the discs came up, and many have told me there are Wide-5, 914-replacement disc brakes out there with a one-piece rotor; I'd opt for those instead.

The failure in the rear brakes was at the point where the press-fitted center mated with the rotors themselves. Big disaster:

Cory--many thanks for the "heads up". I sure wouldn't like an experience like you had with your discs!

I have an inquiry in to C. B. Performance about the issue you raised
and hope to hear back from them Monday. I sure don't want any junk in my car!

I'll attach a write up about the kit I ordered. Does this look like the one you had?

I do know that the price was raised from $400 to a whopping $700 and hope that was due to improvements---the writeup says that Porsche 914 rotors are used with "high performance OEM calipers" so there's no Chinese stuff at least in the main parts--it appears.

Thanks again for the alert!---Jack

Jack,
Just curious...You mentioned earlier you wanted to go with wide-5.
The CB brake kit is offered in a Porsche alloy 5 bolt. You're aware that the alloy 5 is not the same pattern as a wide-5, correct?

Terry--no, I'm not aware of that! Since the ad said "fits 1968" I thought that meant my car. I also thought I cleared this up with the order clerk when I told him what I was using the kit for.

Another "READY, FIRE, AIM" project by yours truly it looks like.

I wondered why the kit I ordered didn't look like Cary's---now I know.

I'll call C.B. Performance first thing Monday morning and straighten this out. (I hope they haven't shipped my order yet).

Thanks you for this info---I sure thought the "Porsche alloy 5 lug Bolt pattern" was the sanme as "wide 5's"

UI think I'll look at the CSP kit in the meantime---anyone got a recommendation on something better than what Cary got that I should look at?

Thanks, Terry.----Jack

Jack, the rotor itself is different. Apart from the bolt pattern, that's a major structural difference. It's an improvement, from what I can see.
It's a shame your wheels won't line up. Those look like what I would have wanted. I got mine in a bit of a horse-trade for some stuff I had and couldn't use.