Wide 5 conversion drums won't go on

[empi3]

I purchased " C31-501-615-211AG - GERMAN MADE - 5X205MM CONVERSION REAR BRAKE DRUM FOR BEETLE 68-79 / GHIA 67-74" from CIP1 for my 68 Ghia.

I pulled both 4 lug drums and brake shoes off and tried to slip the new drums on but, they only went about 1/3rd of the way on. With a little bit of rocking and pushing I got them a little further but that was it.

I tried both new drums on both sides, same results

I tried a pair of old wide 5 drums, they slipped on OK.

I also have a pair of new AC Industies
" Rear Brake Drum, Wide 5 VW 5 x 205mm Pattern, fits ’68-’79 Bug, Super Beetle & Thing
Part #: 181501615A "
They won't go all the way on either.

It seems the new drums are the problem.

Any ideas?

Steven
_________________
The fact someone posts a thousand messages a month does not mean the messages contain anything worth reading.
Bob Hoover

1970 Beetle
1956 Ragtop Beetle
1968 Ghia

[OldSchoolVW's]

You are posting a Ghia fitment question in the late Beetle forums ... I get it ... I know the parts are pretty much interchangeable and perhaps you'll get more traffic seeing this post over here, but this might be something other Ghia owners have encountered and could comment on. Jus' sayin' ...

That said ...

Does your '68 Ghia have a swing axle or IRS? I believe they were made with both that model year. Maybe there's a different drum P/N for each?

Since you have older drums that slide on okay, I'd start by comparing measurements on those to the new drums to identify any differences.

It's not unusual for parts to be swapped out from other years. I discovered my '69 had '66 front spindles when I went to change the inner and outer bearings and found the ID of the '69 bearings to be too big. Maybe some of the rear axle/brake parts are from a different year. Maybe the backing plate?

Just some things to ponder.
_________________
Tom

"Following distance is proportional to IQ."

"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." Warren Miller

"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing." Wernher von Braun

'63 Beetle Sedan
'69 Beetle Sunroof
'70 Beetle Sedan
'73 Type 3 Fastback

[NachoCar]

Bump .... as I was just about to pull the trigger on the AC Industries ones from AA on the 69 IRS rear of my bug.

ANy progress?

[ashman40]

Old brake pads and old semi-worn drums. Brake pads are adjusted to work with worn drums. You remove the old drums and immediately try to slide on new drums. They don't fit.

Did you turn the brake adjuster screws/stars at the bottom to bring the brake shoes IN to allow for the new drums that have a smaller inside diameter than the older worn drums? This is especially true when installing new drums AND new shoes. The adjusters may need to be screwed in ALL the way AND the wheel cylinders compressed all the way (pushing brake fluid back into the brake reservoir) to get the new shoes to fit inside the new drums.


I don't have the specs handy but have you measured the largest ID of your new drums? Are they within spec for new drums?
I think it is 230.0mm ID for new drums and 231.5mm for worn drums. That is just a quick Google search.
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[OldSchoolVW's]

^ I too thought the drums could be hanging up on the shoes, but ...

[NachoCar]

well, I've been in communication with AA and whoever is answering emails doesn't even know they have the 5x205 rear drums for 68 onwards type 1s.. I even included the discription from their website on initial email.

I wanted to make sure I didn't need to change backing plate or anything else.

Bummed they can't pull their head outta their ...

[OldSchoolVW's]

[empi3]

Success with some gentle persuasion from my BFH I was able to get the drums on far enough to engage the axle nut.
The torque meister snugged it down the rest of the way.

The $40.00 Universal Hub Puller "eBay special" pulled them off with no problem. Those new drums sure had some tight tolerances!!

Thanks for the help. a little encouragement sure did help


Steven

PS I did try both the conversion and the Thing drums, worked for both.
_________________
The fact someone posts a thousand messages a month does not mean the messages contain anything worth reading.
Bob Hoover

1970 Beetle
1956 Ragtop Beetle
1968 Ghia

[ashman40]

[runamoc]

I use those drums, they are German made Bus drums with the 'nose' trimmed down to have the axle nut fit. My stock '69 brakes are not as wide as they could be for the drum but that's OK. Sounds to me like your splines were the problem as I think you have discovered.
_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 45 yrs - Plan B: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs- '80 Rabbit Diesel
VW Wiring = It's just wires

[empi3]

[NachoCar]

you got any opinion between the german vs Tiwanese drums?

Did one fit better than the other? I personally, don't care for the pattern on the german ones and they are twice as much. (I know you get what you oay for)