TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:36 am

I have a 68 bug tranny with 68 backing plates and bearing cap. I am trying to put on rear brake shoes but they do not fit. When I insert the top portion of the shoe into the wheel cylinder the bottom part will not go into the adjuster. Is it possible that they could have gave me the wrong shoes? What years are different as far as the backing plates and shoes?
Thanks for any help

Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:52 am

here is a picture

The shoe is up against the backing plate and it will not line up with the brake adjuster.

Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:47 am

The problem is the wheel cylinder is all the way in (no fluid in it) and the adjuster is all the way in. Just turn the adjuster out enough to hold the shoe in place to make assembly easier. Once you put fluid in the system and bleed the brakes, you'll need to adjust again to get a good pedal feel.

Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:03 am

Quote: The problem is the wheel cylinder is all the way in (no fluid in it

The wheel cylinder will be all the way in, even with fluild in it.

Quote: What years are different as far as the backing plates and shoes?

Ran into a similar problem. Seems they have a 17mm and a 19mm wheel cyclinder. The shoes where also different widths. Looks to me like you have a 19mm cylinder and shoes on a 17mm backing plate. I think it is just a '68 'issue'. You know, swing axle 4 bolt drum stuff.

Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:46 am

mactraveler wrote: here is a picture

The shoe is up against the backing plate and it will not line up with the brake adjuster.

Do you still have the old shoes? if so are they the same size?

Pat

Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:08 pm

Yeah i looked everywhere for the old shoes but no luck. I pushed the wheel cylinder in when I put the shoe on and the top fit in just fine. If the shoe is up against the back of the backing plate the top fits fine, but the bottom of the shoe is resting on the outside of the start adjuster.

Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:14 pm

I can assure you the star adjust is never supposed to be all the way in. Turn it out so it grabs the shoe, put it together, and see how it fits then.

Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:51 pm

Thats because you are using wheel cylinder 131 611 055, the 19.5mm ones and you need the 113 611 053B, the 17mm ones.

Shoes are 113-609-537-C for the 17mm. 131-609-537-C for the 19.5mm.

You'll never get the drum on with what you have.

Thu Aug 14, 2008 3:40 pm

I am a bus guy so I dont know much about the beetle brake setup but the guy sold me the wrong backing plates. If you look at the pictures, there are like humps in the plate next to the bearing cap. I have no idea what these backing plates are even for. So now I have the new ones and the shoes fit great. I did have the 17mm wheel cylinders and correct shoes just the wrong backing plates.
Thanks for the help anyways though!