Late or early disks

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PIE

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Anyone know how I can tell if my Discs are off an early or late bay, they are 12mm thick if this helps!
 
Anyone able to measure an early disc, recon the difference lies in the distance from whare the wheel sits to the face of the disc, but I could be wrong :(
 
Checked on vw heritage and discs for 70 to 72 and 72 to 79 both listed as 13mm thick new. Can you post a pic might add a clue to the difference
 
the 71-72 disc changed towards the end of 72 to the later discs that ran till 79, there are some differences I just dont know what they are. My van should have the earlier set up but it had later calipers with home made drop spindles with washers spacing the caliper out probably becouse the early caliper is no longer available. I have just replaced the spindles. I am trying to find out if they also changed the discs. Looks at the moment like it is the earlier discs but I cant be sure. JK do a kit to fit the later calipers on the early set up, just need to know if I need to order some early discs as well.
Don't think a pic will help they look the same. I think its just small differences in the OS
 
Yep that sounds like you have the early discs the spacing from memory is something like 4mm offset to accomodate the late calipers does that look about right?
 
Araon said:
Yep that sounds like you have the early discs the spacing from memory is something like 4mm offset to accomodate the late calipers does that look about right?

That looks about right, as the discs are a bit worn anyway I am tempted to buy a new early set and conversion kit for the later calipers from JK and be done with it.
 
I bought a caliper conversion kit from JK. They are late calipers but come with top hat style bushes to adjust the position of the caliper when fitted. There was no need to change the original discs.
 
I believe that the early calipers bolted to the spindles with 12mm bolts. The later calipers are slightly larger mounting bolts (maybe 14mm??).

So, if you remove one of the mounting bolts and you have a 12mm bolt around... see if it fits. If it fits, you have the early disc setup (double bleeder).

(remember... in 71 there were two different disc brakes. A single bleeder (early 71) and a double bleeder (late 71)) Other than that... I "think" both sets were the same in all other areas.
 
The double bleeder was just so one caliper would fit either side rather than having handed ones from memory.
 
This is what i found out when i repaired my calipers last year.

From what i found out about early/ late calipers.

Early calipers aperture (where the pads go in) is 47mm wide and has 2 bleed nipples. Lates are about 55mm wide.

Early pads are 15mm thick retaining clips held in with spring type pins, Lates are 19 mm thick and have bigger retaining springs and have circlip type pins.

Early discs are 8mm thick and Lates are 13mm thick.

Thay are handed due to the cut out on the pistons, cut outs go towards the bottom.

Early brake bits are expensive and Lates are cheeper.


Dont know if thats any help.
 
I have the JK comversion and it uses the early disc set up with later calipers and uses spacers to centralise the disc in the caliper, been running this set up for about 1 year and never had any issues.
Where in Shropshire are you as your more than welcome to come round and have a look (im in Telford)
 
froggy said:
I have the JK comversion and it uses the early disc set up with later calipers and uses spacers to centralise the disc in the caliper, been running this set up for about 1 year and never had any issues.
Where in Shropshire are you as your more than welcome to come round and have a look (im in Telford)

Not far from you mate I live between Telford and Shrewsbury!
 
Just recieved my new discs, my old ones were early, put the JK adapters on, the brakes were tight on the inside pad, ended up putting the washers that came with the kit under the spacers, they still rub a tad on the inside but I hope they free up when I get her on the road.
 

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