TheSamba.com :: View topic - Non VW Parts (disc brakes, steering, etc)2 use on VW

Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:55 am

I would like to start this thread to find out from the knowledgeable masses of TheSamba members any tips or tricks to use on all of our VW based vehicles that would aid in using a non-VW item or part that can be slightly altered or machined in your garage/shop to be used on our rides. For instance: Disk brakes from the audi, or maybe motorcycle calipers. (I have seen these mentioned here and there.) Also some sort of alternative collapsible steering column. (I cannot find these for sale anywhere.) Finally, any Hairbrained idea that is safe and actually works. I see the need to have this information brought to one place, so why not here? I and everyone else would love to see your ideas (please post pics or drawings.) I really hope that this thread grows and grows. There are so many VW geniuses out there, especially you cali guys and of course gals. Here is your chance guys, lets pic your brains and see what ya know!

Thank you for posting in advance, I will check the thread often and comment faithfully.

Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:08 am

Never did this my self but at least an idea
http://www.blindchickenracing.com/How_to/280Zbrakes/280zbrakes.htm
There is also information at germanlook.net
Dave

Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:52 am

Thank you Dave. You popped the Cherry for the first Posting... This is **exactly** the type of information that I am looking for for this post. I have been to blind chicken before, but never noticed that mod. 280z disc brakes.... nice.

Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:42 pm

I think this would make a good sticky... I know that some older mercedez rotors will fit some sort of 22r toyota hub... What else works....? Brad?

Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:32 pm

There is a guy who advertises on E-Bay an auction to buy a parts and mod sheet for junk yard parts to equip vw with disc brakes. Supposedly on the very cheap, and with at home mods. The auction cost is a buy it now of something like $2.00. I will look for it and order a set and post the results if I'm successful.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:11 pm

Yes Nutz, I agree that this topic will become sticky... but only if we get enough information to share... I see quite a few people are looking already... but not many are contributing yet.. (build it and they will come).

Here it is guys... bring on your ideas. My next topic may be an offshoot of this one which would be along the lines of "interchangeability between vw models for all mods."Like thing outer axles with bus cv joints" stuff like that. But that would make this topic too broad.

I do like your ideas, but one of the things that I have noticed in these forums is that pics work... our vw guys and gals are very visual... so lets post some pics and give our members something to look at. I know that it is hard work to resample images and post them up for use on the forums...
That is a gripe that I have.... I would love for the forum software to resample the images automatically so that as long as they are the correct format... jpg, or .bmp, etc. then they will post with no problem... it really has stopped me from posting more. But that is another topic too. lol

Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:12 pm

Thank you zarjdr for that info... I can't wait to see what you have for us... we will be waiting... thank you for taking the time to invest to the cause.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:15 pm

Has anyone seen an alternative to getting speared thu the chest in a front end collision with the steering assembly? This is a serious concern of mine... lol, my kids don't want me to die.

Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:57 pm

Ok got the lowdown on the junkyard disc brake conversion parts info as follows: VWs Place, 23635 Robertson Rd. LaCygne, Kansas, 66040. For a small handling fee they will send the list of donors that easily convert, templates for brackets, fastener list etc. etc. Phone is 913-757-2122. I am going to order a set as soon as I get some daytime business hour opportunity, and will follow up with input later. Yowza!!!! Disc brakes on the cheap!!!!!!!

Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:12 pm

Travis, I think you and I are going to get along well. Me and some friends are currently working through some mods that would use cheaper/stronger parts for our buggies. We like playing hard, but don't like sinking a fortune into them.

I read on one of the forums that the "microstub" rear axle kits are nothing more than Chevy S10 4wd front hubs and stubs. We are currently building a set of arms that will use these Chevy parts. It will give you a Chevy 5 lug pattern, but wheels are cheap. It will give you good size disk brakes, as well as a few other features. We should be done by Labor Day if you are planning to go to Ocala with us we can show you what we came up with.

Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:44 pm

TravisChattin wrote: Has anyone seen an alternative to getting speared thu the chest in a front end collision with the steering assembly? This is a serious concern of mine... lol, my kids don't want me to die.

Use the stock collapsable shaft or switch over to Rack and Pinion then theres no shaft to directly impale you. :wink:

Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:46 pm

Florida_Buggy wrote: Travis, I think you and I are going to get along well. Me and some friends are currently working through some mods that would use cheaper/stronger parts for our buggies. We like playing hard, but don't like sinking a fortune into them.

I read on one of the forums that the "microstub" rear axle kits are nothing more than Chevy S10 4wd front hubs and stubs. We are currently building a set of arms that will use these Chevy parts. It will give you a Chevy 5 lug pattern, but wheels are cheap. It will give you good size disk brakes, as well as a few other features. We should be done by Labor Day if you are planning to go to Ocala with us we can show you what we came up with.

I have heard of the S10 mod before, but I don't know the details. I have also heard of some mercedez brake componants doing the trick. I look forward to seeing pics of your work!

Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:46 pm

Wow! That sounds outstanding. I cannot wait to see the chevy mod. I absolutely love to see something seen all the way to the end. There is nothing that I respect more than someone that actually completes a project. I know VWs are never finished, but all the smaller projects that go into them are little miracles in themselves. I understand the way all of our wallets have thinned out as of late, and I know how much our toys and VW passions cost us. That is just one more reason for this posting. To make our dollars go farther. For every dollar saved, it is another dollar that I can spend to bring a smile to my child's face or maybe an approving glance from my better half; if you are like me, then you can appreciate what we are doing here. So don't be shy, we won't laugh.... much. lol. All in fun of course if someone slips. But seriously, share your thoughts with us. I for one know the value of the old timers. I would love to hear some of that good 'ol wisdom that none of the snot nosed punks today have time to listen to.

Those Chevy CVs and all sound bad assed. My girl and I would love to come up with yall on your next club ride. Make sure that we get a formal invite! We have a brand new tent just dying to be used, I have a 17 foot canoe that I would love to get wet too.... I may do that this weekend. Ya have to love living in Florida. I am actually a native to riverview, just south of tampa bay. Grew up with 3 wheelers and skimboards.... lol.

Good job guys.

Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:09 pm

(I'm sure most of you already know this but for the ones that don't...)

Probably won't be cheaper unless you are at the right place at the right time but MG headlights are supposed to fit the fiberglass kits better then the VW's. I haven't done it, just heard about it.

Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:26 pm

Ya.... this won't become sticky unless we get some more input on here... I just don't have the information myself, I have to rely on the info from all of you guys on here. I guess it is all secret secret hush hush stuff for some reason. Or they guys just aren't sure of themselves enough to post. ....... sigh. We need more posts to keep it going.

Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:45 pm

Ain't nothing cheaper about MG parts. You would think they swim them over one at a time.

Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:01 pm

Here is a good page for putting audi engine and parts into a vw bus http://volksweb.relitech.com/helmut/index.htm

Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:20 pm

This is afterburnt's custom set up from woodsbuggy.com. Pretty amazing work.

afterburnt wrote: I started on the front end before december, and i just finished it a week before memorial day. tried it out on memorial weekend, and i was so impressed with it, it worked perfect. the only problem i had was a flat tire, but i had bead locks up front, and i drove from scobby doo, down the power line and back to camp and I didnt even notice in the performance, I love those bead locks. what i did is, i made a new front beam, and i made it a ball joint width, and 3 inches wider than stock. when i made my trailing arms, i used 1 1/2" 3/16 thick square tubing, i made them 2 1/2 inches longer and 1/2 inch wider than stock. i made my link pins out of 4140 chromemally 7/8 thick. I made my king pins out of 1 3/4" 4140, and i had them heat treated, because i used torington needle bearings with square O ring seal to seal the dirt out of the bearings. I kind of copied the ones made by Foddrill. what i made different than everyone else, is instead of the spindle being welded on, i used ford explorer spindles. i went up to the junk yard and picked up the spindles and the rotors. the spindles bolted on with 6 bolts, thats why i used those, and the rotor was too heavy. so i took a chunk of aluminum and i turned up a hub, i bolted on wilwood rotors to the back of it, i even made a stainless steel dust cap, and its all polished, it looks pretty cool. I got rid of the Ghia calipers and bought wilwood calipers to save on weight. i used fox nitrogen shocks, to support it all. Then I used a jeep cherokee power stearing box, to stear it all, i could ride with one hand and drink a beer with the other, its sweet. the front suspension works so good, you feel very little bumps and its kind of cool, when you step on the breaks, the front end would dip down a few inches and you step on the gas, it would lift up a couple of inches. all in all, it gave me 19 inches of clearance under my front beam. I even got a piece of 1/8" thick armor plating, i formed it to fit underneath my bottom tube on my front beam so i dont dent the front beam again, the front end works so good, i recommend it to everybody. all in all, i think i got about $ 900 invested in the whole front end. but my garage is a small machine shop, and i did fab every little piece and part, thats why it took all winter.

Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:21 pm

afterburnt wrote: thanks for all of the good coments. i guess it was worth being out in the garage everynight until midnight for months. when i do a project like this, i do alot of research on the internet, and i always end up just walking around the junk yard, looking at what i could use. You'd be surprised with what you find, if you have alittle bit of imagination,
thanks again, dave

SubySteve wrote: Nice work! I like the use of late model everyday parts, I dont think those bearings will ever wear out.

if you like what i did with my front end, you would love my back end. :lol: i took and made new 3x3 trailing arms with microstubs. what i used for that was, the front hubs off of a 1992 chevy 4 wheel drive pickup. i took the truck axles and busted the cv out of it, so i had a stub with a cup on it. i put the stub in the lathe and cut it down, and drilled and tapped the holes so i could bolt a bus cv on it. oh ya, when i was cutting the stub, the material was like case hardend, so i had to use ceramic tooling inserts. but once i got through the hardness, it was pretty soft so i was able to use high speed tap and drill for the holes. the tubing i used for the trailing arms was 1 1/4" x 0.180 wall dom tubing. i was able to use the front rotors off of the chevy truck, but i had to turn them down so they were 7/8" thick because i used wilwood calipers. the best part about this was when i went to the junk yard, they charged me 40 bucks for that whole spindle and axle. heres some pictures of it.

Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:51 am

Thank you hillaholic... and PICS too.. you are awesome man, keep up the good work. YOU ROCK