Disc Brake Conversion

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I just got a '73 Thing in pretty good condition and am currently involved in making it safer for driving. One of my main goals is to convert it to disc brakes. My question is concerning the disc brake conversion kits for sale. I know I need the 5 bolt version for stock wheels, but are the ones for beetles and such compatible? Also are there any companies whose conversion kits are better or worse than others? Lastly is it worth it to convert all 4 wheels to discs or will just 2 discs plus 2 drums stop it well enough?

[chinacat]

I had considered doing the same conversion to my '73 at one point, but ultimately opted against it. At the time I was only considering putting them on the front wheels. Deciding factors were: a) questionable quality of aftermarket disk brake kits (most made in Brasil or Taiwan); and b) integrity of work needed for conversion. The combination made it unlikely that I'd realize any real gains in safety.

Properly maintained stock drum brakes are safe, and have plenty of stopping power. The key is to inspect/overhaul your entire system, and always have them adjusted by someone who knows exactly how to do it (an air-cooled specialist - never one of those quickie chains!). Often, people who don't really know how to work on Thing brakes will only adjust one of the pads on each drum, resulting in uneven wear, and half the stopping power.

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the front( leading) shoe does more stopping than the trailing shoe, so if you only adjust the rear shoe, you can lose much more than 50% of the energy. The best trick is run the adjusters all the way until the wheel does not turn, pump the pedal to center the shoe, back off a few clicks until the wheel turns again, pump the brakes again and check for drag. A slight drag is from the uneven wear which is natural in a single piston system, The corner will wear off quickly AND as you get more frequent with adjustments, the shoes have a greater contact patch and can stop remarkable well.