one last thing

[halfgut]

Okay, I was just told by Cip1 that the rear brake shoes are the same front and rear on the Thing. With the bigger drum on the back wouldn't I need bigger shoes?

[Ferretkona]

Yes, but they are far and few between.

I think K-man might have a few. There was a thread on shoes a few months back. But the front are just about the only ones available now. Save the old shoes if they are bigger, sometimes you can get them relined but at a cost.

[Rev. Scott]

its true, they are the same now. theve notched and drilled for the e-brake on both of 'em. i had my doubts and even made a semi-angry phone call to eis...sure enough though they'er the same. care for some crow? i have leftovers!

[mattt]

I think the wider rear brake shoe mystery is just that....a mystery. A while back Kmann measured the stock VW rear shoes at 1.5" wide. That is the same width as std. Type 1 rear shoes. The drum is wider, however I don't believe the area where the shoes ride is. YMMV...

[GregZA]

I'm not sure what the difference is between reduction box and IRS drums is the IRS part number has an A suffix but the reduction box takes Thing only shoes which are wider.
If you look up in the parts manual the later shoes are a 113 part number so I'm thinking that to keep the track the same the drums stayed the same width as earlier models.

[kubelmann]

I do have a set of 4 rear German Military Thing brake shoes available. They have a 181 part number. They are brand new for $35 plus actual shipping cost.

[halfgut]

The Thing Shop lists "brake shoes" and doesn't specify whether they are front or rear. So, it does sound like the same shoes will fit all four wheels.

[kubelmann]

They get $29 a pair.