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Vintage Speedster Rear Brakes

GTmanGTman

In the process of convering 4 lug VW wheels to 5 wides at the rears and am deep in rear brake confusion.

 

Have a 2000 Vintage Speedster with a short swing axle rear end.

 

I was told that the conversion could be easily accomodated by simply replacing the existing drums with `67 5 wide drums (Italian made from So Cal Imports).  Got the 67 drums and put them on, then found when tightening the castle nut that the drums got bound up internally I am thinking against the outer edge of the brake shoes.  I know my car has the wider 40 mm shoes from later bugs on the rear.

 

My question is: (1) can I fix this problem by changing out the 40 mm wide shoes with 30 mm shoes; and (2) if so, do I need to change out anything else like the wheel cylinders, backing plate, spring hardware . . .

 

Any input or help would be greatly apprecated.

 

Thanks, Grant

 

Picture of existing rear brakes with the 40 mm wide later bug brake shoes as assembled by Vintintage Speedsters

IMG_0596

Picture of existing later bug 4 lug drum fitting 40 mm wide shoes

IMG_0601

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GTmanGTman

Thank you Mike.

 

I found that out the hard way.  Yes, the larger 40mm wide shoes will bind on the inside of the 67 drums when you start tightening the castle nut.

 

I went over the Vintage Speedsters today and spoke with Kirk and Horis, and learned that they use the same later bug (69+) backing plates as well as the same later bug wheel cylinders on all of their rear drum brakes.  The only thing that they change when doing a 5 wide style is to use the 67 30mm wide shoes.

 

I picked up a set of the shoes so will give it a try over the weekend.  The good news/bad news of doing this is (a) good, hopefully have solved the problem and actually may gain about 1/2 inch of tire clearance by wheel mounting surface of the 67 drums being moved in closer to axle bearing than with the 4 lug drums; while (b) bad is loosing alittle braking surface area.  Kirk assured me that with the lightness I wouldn't notice any difference.

 

Thanks, Grant 

GTmanGTman

While I am not hitting the point of defeat.

 

I am really suprised about the info provided by Vintage when I was there last week about my situation.  They told me that the run the older 270 type rear shoes and 315 wider shoes on the same 69+ IRS backing plate without any other changes.

 

When I did a trial fitting of the narrower 270 30mm wide shoes today while I found that they will give me the fit needed with the 67 5 wide drums, they simply are not compatible with the later 69+ wheel cylinders, bottom adjuster screws or backing plate.  The narrower 30 mm shoes with the ends installed in the wheel cylinder and adjusting screws did not rest on the raised pads of the backing plate.

 

This leads me to believe that my only option now is to go with 66 or 67 backing plates, wheel cylinders, and adjusting screws.

 

Does anyone have an idea where one can find 66-67 backing plates ? 

 

Thanks, Grant

 

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