Rear Brake 'conversion to late'

[james_stan]

OK, so along the way I have picked up a late- ish front beam with discs etc.. still fitted. I am waiting to fit it when the MOT man evantually condemns my current patch-work.

If/when I do fit it, I would consider fitting the disk brakes too but this will also mean fitting the later rear brake set-up so I get matching bolt-pattern, one spare wheel etc..

Anyone any idea of which parts to swap at the rear ? Any suggested breakers that might hold these bits ?

Cheers all

James

 

[Guest]

good question... is just the later outer drum needed? will it bolt onto the early backing plate?

 

[speedwell68]

good question... is just the later outer drum needed? will it bolt onto the early backing plate?

They will adapt but it means some messing around. I have just done this on mine as I had a screwed stub axle. I got two stubs axles, late hub carriers, hubs, backing plates, brakes and drums from volksheaven for £190 delivered.

 

[pete nice]

I changed the whole rear hub assembly complete, it is a hell of a lot easier.

You can sell your wide 5 rear end for good money too. I sold mine for £200 in minutes, I had people PM me before I had even taken them off! i reckon you could get £250 without too much hassle.

I still have a set of front wide 5 complete if anyone wanted to make a whole early set too...

 

[james_stan]

Cheers for the replies guys.

I changed the whole rear hub assembly complete, it is a hell of a lot easier.

Easier - I like the sound of that, at which point did you unbolt to perform the transplant ? I'm not so familiar with the rear set-up and trying to compare them in Haynes is not so easy..

You can sell your wide 5 rear end for good money too. I sold mine for £200 in minutes, I had people PM me before I had even taken them off! i reckon you could get £250 without too much hassle.

Wow how so ? I would have though these are mostly junk if most people want to upgrade brakes - I paid 60 for the front beam with disks at Stamford a couple of years ago..


Cheers again

James

 

[speedwell68]

You can sell your wide 5 rear end for good money too. I sold mine for £200 in minutes, I had people PM me before I had even taken them off! i reckon you could get £250 without too much hassle.

Wow how so ? I would have though these are mostly junk if most people want to upgrade brakes - I paid 60 for the front beam with disks at Stamford a couple of years ago..


Cheers again

James

They are like gold dust to a splitty owner who wants to IRS his bus and still keep the original stud pattern.

 

[pete nice]

Yep!


I unbolted the hub & left the trailing arm on. Take the drive shaft off, brake pipes, undo a few bolts & away you go...

 

[speedwell68]

Today we have converted my '68 to post '73 brakes all the way around. Wow. Is all I can say. Good immediate braking, no longer is there a committee meeting when I apply the brakes, it stops really well. We also fitted all new steering arms, ball joints and anti roll bar bushes. My bus stops, steers and handles. I took it 30 miles up the coast road and back, fantastic. A late bay brake conversion really is worth the money.

 

[pete nice]

They are easier to maintain which is why I did mine. The brakes were a bit iffy, but i never took them apart.

My old 68's drum brakes worked very well. They just need a good check over & be adjusted properly.

 

[speedwell68]

They are easier to maintain which is why I did mine. The brakes were a bit iffy, but i never took them apart.

My old 68's drum brakes worked very well. They just need a good check over & be adjusted properly.

All of my original '68 brakes came with the bus from the US. They were nearly fully worn and it was just cheaper in the long run to go for late brakes. I cobbled all the bits together cheaply. The front end came for £30, caliper, hubs the lot. I the rebuilt calipers with genuine girling overhaul kits from GSF, along with some OE pads and brembo discs. The whole 4 wheel conversion cost me £471, that includes all the sundries like new brake pipes and the like. Worth every penny. My bus now has new everthing, the only mechanical bit I haven't replaced is the steering gearbox and the dissy, it drives like new too.

 

[james_stan]

Aha ! Speedwell/Pete I see the draw now..

Today we have converted my '68 to post '73 brakes all the way around. Wow. Is all I can say. Good immediate braking, no longer is there a committee meeting when I apply the brakes, it stops really well. We also fitted all new steering arms, ball joints and anti roll bar bushes.

Please tell me there was a gang of a dozen trained mechanics working with you.. ..it's taken me since October to repair the sills on my Bus (my wife relents for about 3-4 hours each Sunday PM)..

Thanks to all for the help with this topic.

BR

James

 

[pete nice]

I am an aircooled VW Mechanic full time, so I didn't find it too hard.

With a manual & some half decent tools you will do the rear rear end in a morning. It's not a massive job if you are changing the whole assembly.

I did have a compressor with air gun, so that does speed things up.

If you have changed the front beam yourself, then the rear is twice as easy (or half has hard). Don't worry, it's not a monster job. Just take your time & work carefully.

If not, get a quote from a local specialist or get some club members to help. It's all just nuts & bolts, there is nothing too technical in there.

Clamp the flexi hoses before you disconnect the brakes so you don't loose all the fluid. It will be much easier to bleed the brakes after.

 

[speedwell68]

Aha ! Speedwell/Pete I see the draw now..

Today we have converted my '68 to post '73 brakes all the way around. Wow. Is all I can say. Good immediate braking, no longer is there a committee meeting when I apply the brakes, it stops really well. We also fitted all new steering arms, ball joints and anti roll bar bushes.

Please tell me there was a gang of a dozen trained mechanics working with you.. ..it's taken me since October to repair the sills on my Bus (my wife relents for about 3-4 hours each Sunday PM)..

Thanks to all for the help with this topic.

BR

James

I do say we. We being my Father and Uncle and me.

 

[james_stan]

^^^^^^Thanks to VWH^^^^^

Right then. Is it just parts 32 back to 27 on the picture above (Plus backing
plates cylinder(s) and shoes. Or do I also need the 'hub carrier casting thingy'
without a number in the diagram above.

If I'm going to be kicking around a couple of the shows this year I ought
to know what i'm looking for... :?

Cheers again

James

 

[speedwell68]

I'd get everything including hub carriers, that is what I did. Stub axles are the same all years.