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  View original topic: Wheels for conversion to disc brakes
locky Tue May 05, 2009 8:35 am

Hey Y'all. I am converting over to disc brakes. Front Ghia and Rear 944. I am also upgrading to 15" from 14". My question is, as long as the hole pattern matches both the rotor and the wheel, will it work. Reason being, I want a centerline type rim and it is hard to find them in the 5x130. Could I use any hole pattern as long as they match? I can go down to the local shop and get decent rims in a 5x4.5 or 5x5.0 hole pattern for about $100. I could order blank rotors and get them drilled to match. Any help?

Fun 181 Tue May 05, 2009 10:17 am

locky wrote: Could I use any hole pattern as long as they match? I can go down to the local shop and get decent rims in a 5x4.5 or 5x5.0 hole pattern for about $100. I could order blank rotors and get them drilled to match. Any help?

Sure can. As long as you're running 15" wheels you can pretty much get whatever wheel pattern you want. They sell rotors and wheel adapters in whatever size so the sky is the limit. Personally I loath the limited options available for stock VW bolt patterns so I went with the 5x4.5, but I could have gone with almost anything. You just need to make sure that you buy wheels with an offset that will work and the correct size tires that will fit without rubbing. Wheel offset and tire height/fitting is all covered in the topics listed above.

locky Tue May 05, 2009 11:56 am

AHHH! So much info with all of the backspacing and offset. I would like to avoid adapters, from what I read. I think I will pick out my wheel size. Thinking 15x7, front and back and then my hole pattern 5x5". Ordering up the blank rotors and getting them drilled to the 5x5". I wanted to go with a 205x75x15 tire. Probably the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A's. All of my suspension will be upgraded including Sway-Away leafs, and upgraded shocks up front. Possibly new Torsions in the back(still have to pull them out and have a look. I was also going to raise the rear by reindexing 1-2 clicks. So the suspension will be tight. I guess I just need to figure out the offset and backspacing. I like your Cragar wheels.

locky Tue May 05, 2009 1:56 pm

Hey Fun, what are you running for brakes?

Fun 181 Tue May 05, 2009 3:38 pm

locky wrote: Hey Fun, what are you running for brakes?

AC Industries with the Ford 5x4.5 bolt pattern. Ordered through SoCal imports and they were very helpful over the phone. While not an "ultra-premium" kit, they fit like a glove and work quite well (unlike the kit I had from Airkewld). I installed the rears myself just a few days ago, and they bolted on in a few minutes with zero problems. Check around, you will probably be able to find a disc kit in whatever bolt pattern you need. When you have the dough to swap out both your tires and wheels it's refreshing to be able to choose from the myriad of bolt pattern choices available.

Oh yeah, I've got Ford Mustang lug nuts! Ha! :lol:

locky Tue May 05, 2009 10:53 pm

Nice, Thanks, that is great info. I, as well, like the choices for wheels with the more common wheel pattern. If I go this route I will be able to head down to the local shop and pick out a set. Living where I do shipping is a real hassle, especially buying stuff from the states. Do you have the AC's on the front as well? I guess now I just have to figure the offset and backspacing, which somewhat confuses me. Where did you get your front disc wheel adapters? K-Mann has them for $120, they look pretty good.
Thanks

Fun 181 Wed May 06, 2009 7:41 am

AC Industries on front and back. No wheel adapters needed as the rotors come pre-drilled in multiple bolt pattern options. Check out SoCal imports for more info.
http://www.socalautoparts.com/default.aspx
I paid a couple of bucks more to have AC install the bolts in the rotors so everything was ready to go when it arrived.

locky Wed May 06, 2009 8:50 am

I checked out your kit looks good. I found this one on the Canadian CIP site. It does not come with the caliper brackets. Will it work if I track down some thing caliper brackets, and bolt it on? They also have a rear kit that comes with the brackets. This is not thing specific, but it is for a Ghia. Do you think the rear would bolt on? What backspacing and offset are your rims?
thanks alot Fun









http://www.cip1.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D4124

Fun 181 Wed May 06, 2009 9:46 am

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