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Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:02 pm

Hello-

I’m looking for disc brakes, but I have a sneaking suspicion that some kits weigh substantially more than the drums they're replacing. I've looked around for some data, but all I've found are statements like "our brakes weigh 40% less than their brakes". Can anyone provide weight data for the more popular disc brake kits, and how they compare to stock?

Thanks,

Paul

Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:58 pm

Had you asked this 2 weeks ago, I could have weighed my CB Wide 5 discs, but they are on the car now.

I would hazard a guess that they are heavier than the stock drums. Don't let that disuade you though. Disc brakes are far more effiecient at both stopping the car and shedding brake-power robbing heat than drum brakes, even if they weigh more.

Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:16 pm

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2...p;start=20

Scroll down and look for a post by aircooled

Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:17 pm

Here it is.

Airkewld wrote: AC Industries-Shipping weight 74lbs
Empi- 71lbs
CSP-78lbs
CB Performance-61lbs
Airkewld-39lbs

This is based on just wide 5 kits.
Just FYI. Take care.

Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:35 pm

:shock:

Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:45 am

Euro 67 wrote: Here it is.

Airkewld wrote: AC Industries-Shipping weight 74lbs
Empi- 71lbs
CSP-78lbs
CB Performance-61lbs
Airkewld-39lbs

This is based on just wide 5 kits.
Just FYI. Take care.

Anyone know if these weights are per corner, full set, or front only.
And whats the weight of the stock drums?

Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:25 am

The NEAL aluminum street kits are very light, but their site is down for the count. A call to Don at Bugs & Buggies (Don's Sport Vehicles) may reveal the weight info. They're a straight bolt-on affair with no change in track. You can trim the studs down and use LanD Products' super light lug nuts to knock off even more unsprung weight.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:21 pm

I am leery of light weight braking set ups. Something's gonna give at some point. Lighter materials, usually mean weaker materials in these parts we're talking about here. I have CB's on all four corners, and they're heavy, but they work very well. I would rather have some extra weight along with lots of peace of mind.

Tue Apr 22, 2025 7:35 am

Does anyone have any recent input on this topic? I want discs in front but I am watching the unsprung weight.. and besides that I am not running hubcaps so i need a stock look.

Sun Apr 27, 2025 10:05 am

The CB wide 5 kit uses an Alum hub with the bearings and wheel studs in it. Then there's an iron rotor bolted to it.
The EMPI kit uses a one piece rotor/hub that is enormously heavy. The weight difference is huge. I tell people that the flywheel effect of the EMPI kit almost cancels out the braking advantage of discs. As you can imagine, I would never use the EMPI rotors. They are cheaper than the CB ones.