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bluntlunchbox
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2007
Posts: 330
Location: San Diego, CA
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 Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:32 am Post subject: ghia disc brakes on bug |
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| Hey guys, just curious about ghia discs on type 1. It seems like most conversion kits are based on the ghia set up. Is there any advantage to these kits or can I source all of this through a junk yard? Didn't seem like a lot of guys are going this route. |
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skabonner
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2009
Posts: 854
Location: La Habra, Ca
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:50 am Post subject: |
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I have frequent the yards here in so cal, and I rarely see a ghia. I've only seen a ghia once or twice. I think that is the biggest reason, but also the quality factor. You have no idea the condition these are in. Personally I don't want to trust my life, or my front apron, to a set of brakes that may be warped, or have bad calipers. I would just pony up for the kit.
_________________
| Douglas Adams wrote: |
| A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. |
'68 Beetle "Sadie" (R.I.P.)
'67 Beetle "Ilsa"
'06 Gti "Heidi" |
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bluntlunchbox
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2007
Posts: 330
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Ok, thanks a lot. I'm gonna try the new discs at all 4 corners. Carcraft has a combo kit for brakes and rims for 5x130 Porsche lug pattern..keep ya posted. |
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skabonner
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2009
Posts: 854
Location: La Habra, Ca
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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When you do the swap check the maaster cylinder. When the po of my car installed my rear discs he didn't remove the residule pressure valve causing them to stick. I ended up replacing the whole rear set up with drums, before I realized the problem.
_________________
| Douglas Adams wrote: |
| A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. |
'68 Beetle "Sadie" (R.I.P.)
'67 Beetle "Ilsa"
'06 Gti "Heidi" |
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drscope
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 15273
Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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FYI, the Ghia set up is for ball joint front ends. The king & link pin Ghias had drums.
So IF your car is a 66 or newer, and IF you can find a Ghia in the junk yard that still has the front brakes, and IF that Ghia is a disc brake car, you can simply unbolt the ball joints from the trailing arms and swap them right onto your car.
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Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch! |
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doc1976
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2008
Posts: 356
Location: Mesa, AZ
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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| the other reason most go for the aftermarket is because the disc conversion usually goes with lowering the front end. can't do that with factory ghia spindles. |
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OLD VW NUT
Samba Member
Joined: February 23, 2011
Posts: 2776
Location: High Desert of Washington 98823
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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| bluntlunchbox wrote: |
| Ok, thanks a lot. I'm gonna try the new discs at all 4 corners. Carcraft has a combo kit for brakes and rims for 5x130 Porsche lug pattern..keep ya posted. |
I put four corner discs on the 72 super I sold last month. Very impressive braking - make sure you are belted in before doing an emergency braking.
Make sure to pony up for the e-brakes on the rears.
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71 Ghia Coupe - stock body - no rust! Powered by a 2110 W/Dual HPMX 44's - Rancho Pro Street Transaxle - A/C by Gilmore
Other car - 2013 VW Golf TDI |
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Joel
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2006
Posts: 11099
Location: NSW Australia
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:58 am Post subject: |
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| skabonner wrote: |
| Personally I don't want to trust my life, or my front apron, to a set of brakes that may be warped, or have bad calipers. I would just pony up for the kit. |
All you need are the spindles, and if you are really cheap the calipers.
New discs are cheap and should be replaced anyway.
Even buying new calipers it would still be cheaper than a kit and you have OEM quality spindles not poorly made aftermarket crap.
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Quick little bug, you got a Porsche motor in that?
1974 Germanlook 1303 2.5 Suba-Beetle |
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Dystinct
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2011
Posts: 29
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:56 am Post subject: |
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| doc1976 wrote: |
| the other reason most go for the aftermarket is because the disc conversion usually goes with lowering the front end. can't do that with factory ghia spindles. |
Why is that?
I have ghia disc brakes that came with my car's spare parts. There was also a set of drop spindles that are set up for the dics. The car also has an adjustable beam on it.
I'm not sure if I can run both drop spindle and adjustable beam. |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76936
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 5:06 am Post subject: |
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| doc1976 wrote: |
| the other reason most go for the aftermarket is because the disc conversion usually goes with lowering the front end. can't do that with factory ghia spindles. |
Really?
3" drop with AVIS adjusters and stock Ghia spindles.
I started with stock Ghia spindles than I bead blasted. I added rebuilt Ate calipers, Brembo rotors, German bearings and power painted backing plates.
Yes it was more expensive than buying a cheap kit, but I have all quality parts. [/img]
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
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bill may
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2003
Posts: 14160
Location: san diego,ca
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:11 am Post subject: |
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| Glenn wrote: |
| doc1976 wrote: |
| the other reason most go for the aftermarket is because the disc conversion usually goes with lowering the front end. can't do that with factory ghia spindles. |
Really?
3" drop with AVIS adjusters and stock Ghia spindles.
I started with stock Ghia spindles than I bead blasted. I added rebuilt Ate calipers, Brembo rotors, German bearings and power painted backing plates.
Yes it was more expensive than buying a cheap kit, but I have all quality parts. [/img] |
good to see the red beetle. 
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1965 panel bus-Kermit
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453617 |
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BWD
Samba Mailman
Joined: August 23, 2002
Posts: 2154
Location: In bed.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:14 am Post subject: |
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| bill may wrote: |
| Glenn wrote: |
| doc1976 wrote: |
| the other reason most go for the aftermarket is because the disc conversion usually goes with lowering the front end. can't do that with factory ghia spindles. |
Really?
3" drop with AVIS adjusters and stock Ghia spindles.
I started with stock Ghia spindles than I bead blasted. I added rebuilt Ate calipers, Brembo rotors, German bearings and power painted backing plates.
Yes it was more expensive than buying a cheap kit, but I have all quality parts. [/img] |
good to see the red beetle. |
Glenn, is that your car??? 
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BWD
JHC
member #2850
1966 Beetle
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76936
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:57 am Post subject: |
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| BWD wrote: |
| Glenn, is that your car??? |
Why yes it is.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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swinewerx
Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2011
Posts: 98
Location: lodi, calif.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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My 62 has discs, since I had to change the front wheel bearings, and races, I was told that I have ghia discs, but front only, as the back ones are different calipers, compared to the front ones. apparently, I have a very mixturized beetle, it is a sixty two body, on a fifty something pan, dual port aftermarket motor, etc. With all my worries with this beetle at least the engine is always running great, for a go cart! Otherwise, I would not have gotten this beetle, if I would have known what to look for before buying!! I am very glad I know how to weld, and tinker!!!   |
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bluntlunchbox
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2007
Posts: 330
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, I'm picking up a kit and it seems like most of these after market kits used the same calipers, and the rotors and pads were similar too. 5x130 pattern rotors and fake fuchs should be fun for a while. I'll use a "build thread" and post some pics of the install. Thanks again guys! |
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swinewerx
Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2011
Posts: 98
Location: lodi, calif.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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| I am not familiar with ghias, but did they ever have the big five star lug pattern? especially in disc type!!?? |
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doc1976
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2008
Posts: 356
Location: Mesa, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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| BWD wrote: |
| bill may wrote: |
| Glenn wrote: |
| doc1976 wrote: |
| the other reason most go for the aftermarket is because the disc conversion usually goes with lowering the front end. can't do that with factory ghia spindles. |
Really?
3" drop with AVIS adjusters and stock Ghia spindles.
I started with stock Ghia spindles than I bead blasted. I added rebuilt Ate calipers, Brembo rotors, German bearings and power painted backing plates.
Yes it was more expensive than buying a cheap kit, but I have all quality parts. [/img] |
good to see the red beetle. |
Glenn, is that your car??? |
I was referring to lowering by way of spindles with stock ghia spindles. that is where most people start. |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76936
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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| doc1976 wrote: |
| I was referring to lowering by way of spindles with stock ghia spindles. |
No such thing as "stock" lowered Ghia spindles... they are all aftermarket.
| doc1976 wrote: |
| that is where most people start. |
Most... I disagree. Dropped spindles are a static 2.5" drop and they push the wheels out .250". Using an adjustable beam means you can set it anywhere from 0" to 3" drop and dial in so your tires fit.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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KILLERWATT
Samba Member
Joined: November 18, 2003
Posts: 3298
Location: Vero Beach
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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| FYI. The Latest Rage aftermarket Ghia disc to link pin spindle kit uses a special bearing specific to their kit. I only mention this because I almost lost a wheel on the highway. |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76936
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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The problem with aftermarket parts is if you keep the car for years, like i have, they might not be available when they need replacing.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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