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Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:31 am

Any one running spindle mount front wheels on a street car with good success?

I'm looking at putting a set on my Volksrod, which has a very light front end. It has no problems locking up the 135s on the front with drum brakes, so the front brakes are basically of little use as it is. I know a lot of drag cars and rails/buggies run spindle mounts, and have seen some street cars with them, but I need some feedback on how well those cars are stopping with just the rear brakes.

My car gets little use, I only drive it occasionally, and mainly to club meets, cruise nights, etc., with the occasional 6-mile commute to work when I feel like feeling the wind.

Thanks in advance. Rory

Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:00 pm

I ran a street legal rail with spindle mounts on the front without issue. Many friends warned me of the 'dangers' but none of them ever popped up. I understand the physics and the possible problems, but I drove the car very aggressively and never had the car swap ends or any other issue.

Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:27 pm

my buddy Mike is running them on his 64. They tore him a new one here on thesamba a while back for doing it :lol:. He does just fine with daily use. Just make sure your master cylinder is tip-top :wink:
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Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:12 pm

Yeah
I understand that the front brakes take most of the grunt of it

BUT
Its only because they Are In The Front
most of the weight is in the back
As Well as its on a Rear engine Rear wheel drive car
(I wouldnt say this on FWD cars)

Its more effective to slow the drive wheels down then the wheels being pushed.

Make sure that your shocks and the shoes (or pads) are good
And i wouldnt see any Problems

Now if you drive with your foot in the brake
(like alot of people do)
then yes you May have issues,

But Even How Quick I Drive, I am not a BrakeAholic
I allow the engine and tranny
(let alone the weight of the car)
Assist me in stopping effectively.

If you have ever seen the braking system of a 1st Gen Hummer
then you would see that (for clearance/braking rigidity)
the rotors are positioned up close to the inner side of the axles (right up against the tranny in our case)
and Not out by the wheels.

Its not what you have , Its where you put it...

Plus the spindle mounts look really cool in my opinion

I Say Do It!

Dragsters do it All the time and they dont usually have issues stopping

Ha
:lol:

Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:38 pm

Geoff Hart now out of Lake Havasu ran spindle mounts on his street legal race bug. I think it turned 11's in the 1/4. With over 200hp and no front brakes. I guess it's all how your brake system is set up.

Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:01 am

I like the look of them also. I agree with the others that the rear braking system needs to be in good order. If it is an earlier car then I suggest updating to larger rear shoes or disc because some of the rear brakes are pretty small!
Bryce

Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:12 am

I figure between the amount of metal I removed from the car (roof) and the amount I reattached (hood on rear) I'm about stock weight. However, my tank is in the back, so the main weight up front on my Roadster is the front suspension. The apron, fuel tank, fenders, etc were all removed, and simply replaced with flat bar (for structure) and 18 gauge sheetmetal to seal up the trunk. Plus the hood, and the front suspension, I have a very light front end, about the same as a rail with all the tubing.

My rear end has '66 wide 5 brakes (I know not the best, but...), with completely new internals and drums. I'll probably be installing 14mm studs in the drums too. I'm running a buggy pedal assembly for the right hand drive conversion, which has a single circuit 7/8" master cylinder, designed to run only rear brakes. I have a Buggy brake line splitter that feeds the rear brakes, and the line lock for the front, with stock, old early brakes up front that are shot.

Tossing the idea of converting all four to disc with a new pedal assembly and stock late model DC MC, or spindle mount wheels with my current rear brakes and pedals.

Not much use for the line lock anyway, it basically only holds it enough to get the tires spinning before the front tires start sliding, even with the rears in a water box.

But, the spindle mounts I wanted are now gone, so back to the drawing board I guess.

Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:41 am

As a follow up, just in case you find another set and wanna run without front brakes . . .

I've been driving my Ghia every day, year round, sun, snow, rain, whatever, my only car, without front brakes, for almost four years.

Without any weight other than a nearly empty gas tank (especially THESE days) there just isn't enough weight up front to transfer to the front wheels. The front rotors locked up all the time. With no front brakes I can drag it down to a stop and STILL have control over the steering.

Of course, with a front engine/transmission, radiator and everything else, it would be very different in another car, but for a stripped VW . . . ! ? ! ? ! ?

Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:51 pm

TC/TeamEvil wrote:
I've been driving my Ghia every day, year round, sun, snow, rain, whatever, my only car, without front brakes, for almost four years.

dude why?

Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:54 am

One day, around four years ago . . . I managed to slide into the giant cement filled protection pipes surrounding the gas pumps at a local station. The brakes held, the car slid on the sand and I hit the barrier. I ended up replacing the smashed head lights with Beetle units (I was forced into the "slant-back" look) I also pulled the front brakes. It's much easier to steer out of trouble when the front wheels aren't locked in a slide.

Been running good, safe and sound ever since. Never have to worry about the front breaking loose in tight turns or sliding on hard breaking on off ramps or whatever. If the back starts to come around, just brake lightly and steer out of it. Not sure if I'm just used to it or it's a better idea, but just not enough weight up front to transfer and help stop the car, the wheels just lock up and slide. I guess that this is common on lighter rear engines rides.

Sun Apr 06, 2008 4:46 pm

Skim wrote: TC/TeamEvil wrote:
I've been driving my Ghia every day, year round, sun, snow, rain, whatever, my only car, without front brakes, for almost four years.

dude why?

hahaha :lol:

Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:01 am

"dude why?"

Sorry misunderstood. I thought that you meant why drive it without brakes.

I drive it 24/7/365 cause it's SO DAMNED SWEET ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSCN0184.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSCN0186.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSCN0190.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSCN0189.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSCN0187.jpg

Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:11 am

Fortunately, the Roadster is not my driver, it gets limited use as it's not very comfortable to drive at speed (no windsheild and all) and I'm building my driver with 4-wheel discs with good tires for stopping.

JP66 - those are the wheels I was trying to find, but I was going to run the similar-looking Radars from CIP1 (peaked spokes). Some guy had a set listed here last month, sold them before I had freed up funds.

I'm not sure if it's a good thing that people are using spindle mounts on a driver or not. If I was to plan on driving this car more than Sunday joy rides and cruise/club nights I'd plan on brakes, but it sounds like I can get away with the spindles for the non-driver.

Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:52 pm

Hm?

What year is that?

i like the bug buckets
and what year are the tail lights?

Whats in front of it in the second pic

is that a 356 in the same rusty color

Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:28 pm

in that last pic the tail lights look like 62 and newer beetle units.

Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:09 pm

sharkskinman wrote: Yeah

Dragsters do it All the time and they dont usually have issues stopping

:lol:

They also have the ability to dump the laundry when needed.

Running without front brakes on the street is ridiculous.

Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:20 am

have a good E brake

Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:56 am

"is that a 356 in the same rusty color"

Yeah, it's an old '55 Pre-A Continental Coupe. Same sweet patina as my Ghia.

Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:10 am

also illegal to run a car on public roads w/o front brakes. If you do get into an accident (your fault or not) and they find out you have no front brakes, you may be screwed

Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:36 am

Kubel Nick wrote: also illegal to run a car on public roads w/o front brakes. If you do get into an accident (your fault or not) and they find out you have no front brakes, you may be screwed

My main concern. I figure it's the same as driving drunk - your fault or not, your drunk (or have no brakes), so the blame goes to you.

I guess I'll have to go the opposite route, four wheel discs and some good rubber.