Wide 5 front disc conversion.

[cunning plan]

hi guys, sorry for the delay
its difficult to say exactly what it cost as i had 2 sets made (hubs and caliper brackets) at the same time as having some other work done, i also paid for the cad drawings and program for the cnc machine to be written, best guess is about £350 per set, discs were £50 per pair and the calipers were second hand for £20
all in though it was a huge saving on the £800 or so for the vented kit i was looking at
i cant see a problem in getting discs or pads for the forseeable future, both are available off the shelf at my local factors
as the drawings etc are now on file and material prices are lower i think he may be able to do a few sets a bit cheaper, i'll ask the question when he is back, just out of interest

Sounds interesting! Please ask when your guy is back at work I think we could probably get a good group purchase going - 4 of us so far right?

 

[cotswoldiver]

I could also be another interested party. Its one of the sensible upgrades methinks I should be looking at on my '69 before doing the 'pretty stuff'. Know I will need some technical help on this, but I guess if 4/5 people are doing this its a ready made help forum. Keep me posted

hi guys, sorry for the delay
its difficult to say exactly what it cost as i had 2 sets made (hubs and caliper brackets) at the same time as having some other work done, i also paid for the cad drawings and program for the cnc machine to be written, best guess is about £350 per set, discs were £50 per pair and the calipers were second hand for £20
all in though it was a huge saving on the £800 or so for the vented kit i was looking at
i cant see a problem in getting discs or pads for the forseeable future, both are available off the shelf at my local factors
as the drawings etc are now on file and material prices are lower i think he may be able to do a few sets a bit cheaper, i'll ask the question when he is back, just out of interest

 

[mcvw]

Hi Kevdonlon,

A few more Q's if you don't mind...

- Did you need to make any other brake upgrades i.e. master cylinder/servo/pipes etc?
- Does this mod' make any difference (plus or minus) to the overall width of the front-track?
- Regarding the hub - would there be any restriction as per what wheels might or might not be compatible?

I looked back at your 70 bus thread but didn't see mention anything regarding the above.

Thank you,


Mike

 

[kevdonlon]

Hi Kevdonlon,

A few more Q's if you don't mind...

- Did you need to make any other brake upgrades i.e. master cylinder/servo/pipes etc?
- Does this mod' make any difference (plus or minus) to the overall width of the front-track?
- Regarding the hub - would there be any restriction as per what wheels might or might not be compatible?

I looked back at your 70 bus thread but didn't see mention anything regarding the above.

Thank you,


Mike

hi mike,
-so far mine is running on a standard master cylinder, no problems at all, the brake flexi's are mk 3 astra, these are a direct replacement at the standard vw end
-if i remember correctly ( it was a while ago) it increases the track by 8mm per side, not a problem for me as i have a narrowed beam
-i have had 15"standard beetle steels, 15" mws radars,15"flat four sprintstars on mine, i can try 15" mws brm reps if anyone needs to know, no clearance probs

cheers kev

 

[AxlFoley]

how much cashola are wee looking at for the hub and bracket then? as i need these in my life!

Thanks

Mark

 

[Fraggle]

I had the 15" kit on my old splitty and thought they were ace! 8)

I have the 14" kit on my current bay and think they are a little expensive for what they are and how they work.

Are the 14 and 15" kits that significantly different then?

I thought that fundamentally it was just the difference of the disk size to so that the 14" disk fits steelies, or does taking an inch off the disk diameter really make that difference?

Hi and sorry for the late reply...

It's not hugely different, obviously smaller rotors and you don't get any backing plate air deflectors with the 14 inch kit. It just feels ok really but considering it cost another couple hundred for less I was a bit dissapointed really and there was at that time confusions over what master cyllinder you needed......even csp were not too sure as it was such a new kit. :roll:

Cheers

 

[cunning plan]

I hope kevdonlon's buddy is up for making some more sets - I went to the local scrap yard who had a couple of Frontierers with discs and for £15 a set, its cheap!

 

[Pete B]

I am running a late ('64/'67) split beam/spindles. My std drum setup ('68) was a straight swap onto the splitty beam, brakes/ wheelbearings etc. My only concern is if this setup will fit my stubs, need to check part numbers for wheel bearings/seals compared to later bays (ie after '68 model year). Maybe someone knows compatibility? If I can fit this set-up to my spindles, then I am definitely up for a set. What are we looking at, £400 ish? Someone can provide a product here and earn a few quid, might shake a few of the bigger boys into doing something too!
If using std VW bearings etc, then for what year please.
Thanks, very impressed, deadly serious about shelling out on this if I can be sure of it fitting my spindles. Any info/help, on here or pm me or 07881-800-509.
Cheers, Pete.
Edit; Just a thought, how come accomlished engineers (Creative Eng. etc) have not done similar? It's quite common in the hot rod world to do this stuff, is it liability concerns perhaps?
This being 'home brewed' will not have TUV approval etc....

 

[mcvw]

With regards to TUV approval... Surely the 944 conversion that is pretty much commonplace these days on bugs/splitties/bays etc (and fitted by LA Performance etc) doesn't even have this level of approval?

 

[Pete B]

With regards to TUV approval... Surely the 944 conversion that is pretty much commonplace these days on bugs/splitties/bays etc (and fitted by LA Performance etc) doesn't even have this level of approval?

Absolutely. As I said, just a thought, with it being about something as important as brakes! Not meaning to cast doubt over this set-up, it looks cracking and as said, quite willing to part with my hard earnt if it will or can be altered to fit my bus for the right money. 8)

 

[mcvw]

Hey Pete.

I wasn't disagreeing with you - as you say brakes are very important. I'm not 100% on this at all but I don't TUV approval is as much an issue (if any) in the UK as it is in EU countries?

I too am very interested in this setup.

Thanks,


Mike

 

[Pete B]

Hiya Mike. With you all the way mate! All I was getting at was TUV approval gives the buyer some degree of confidence that the parts are safe, for example the caliper bracket isn't going to 'snap' on the first emergency stop!
Haven't touched the engine yet, still have to clear the garage so as to find the bench....
Pete.

Edit; Just got glasses for reading/vdu work, my typing is worse than ever now, keep having to go back and correct!!!!

 

[marcher]

kevdonlon,
Can you put me down for a set also please. they look really great and if they stop you turbo, then will stop my 1600tp on a penny :lol: :lol:
cheers

 

[cunning plan]

Add your name in if you want to be included:

• Cunning Plan
  AxlFoley
  mcvw
  james_stan
  cotswoldiver
  Pete B
  marcher
  
  

 

[karlos]

These do look good - I'm up for a set ...

• Cunning Plan
  AxlFoley
  mcvw
  james_stan
  cotswoldiver
  Pete B
  marcher
  karlos
  

 

[Graham L]

Based on final cost count me in

Cunning Plan
AxlFoley
mcvw
james_stan
cotswoldiver
Pete B
marcher
karlos
Graham L

 

[james_stan]

Based on final cost count me in

Quite so. If the 'originals' were 350 GBP I would like to think that some reduction on this would be possible
for a 'bulk buy' if indeed it can be arrranged. We will of course be indebted to KevLondon if this goes ahead.
Also I have to factor in the cost of new discs and calipers and flexis (most likely). Will the old
22.2mm bore m/c be OK to use.. ?

Cheers

James

 

[AxlFoley]

I dont want to add a load of questions here, but does the caliper carrier mount to the inside or outside of the hub? I'm just trying to figure out if the would fit dropped spindles.

Thanks

Mark

 

[cunning plan]

Based on final cost count me in

We will of course be indebted to KevLondon if this goes ahead.

Oh yah, if this all comes off we will have to call it the 'kevdon conversion' :mrgreen:

 

[Pete B]

I dont want to add a load of questions here, but does the caliper carrier mount to the inside or outside of the hub? I'm just trying to figure out if the would fit dropped spindles.

Good point. Have to be sure it will fit my late K&L beam with dropped spindles. Price obviously has to be right, fingers crossed!