Newbie brake question

[asagodowns]

Just acquired a 74 Thing, had the local VW mechanic go over the brakes....he replaced wheel cylinders and shoes (front and back)said they were the same as a 74 Beetle, is that the case? I had read that the brake shoes were thing specific.
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74 Orange Thing
82 Diesel Caddy

[acidophilusrex]

The front ones are definitely the same as a Bug...the front drums are the same part number as a '67 Bug (wide-five-bolt, ball-joint suspension).

The rear? Prrrrrrobably. I've only been able to acquire Bug-ish rear shoes, but the drums can obviously acommodate something much wider. Whether they actually HAD anything that wide, I dunno.

That said, there's nothing actually WRONG with using Bug shoes on the rear...they'll still work fine on the wider, Thing-specific drums.

[Touch Nicks Thing]

I've heard that Thing shoes are wider, I've never actually done a test to see. Like he stated there isn't anything wrong with using Beetle brake shoes.

[mattt]

Common misconception....I used to think that also,,,,,till someone showed me better.
The fronts are 67 Bug as stated.
The rears are 181 only, unique wider drum, however, the shoes and backing plates are regular Bug. Drum is wider-increased track width, brake shoes are not.

T-3 rear shoes are wider, but you must use T-3 drums with those.

[kubelmann]

I have two original Thing front brake set ups ( $50 each) and one complete Thing rear brake set up ( $125) These are backing plate out to the drums complete. All parts are used and have plenty of life left in them. Buy my parts and dispell all previous myths. Like Mattt, I have learned tons by taking apart fully functional Things. K-mann

[wheel607]

So, is the only advantage to having 181 drums on rear of type1, wider track? Are the brake shoes the same size as a type 1? No wider shoes are available, eventhough there is about 7mm additional space for more shoe width?

[kubelmann]