74 Super Beetle front drums

[OldTimer74]

hello super beetle fans,...just purchased a 74 Super Beetle and wanted to service the front drums but upon removal of driver side didnt take note on the star adjuster screw position, the passenger side is positioned in the second picture, but drum has uneven wear...?...which way does the star adjuster screw go?

[mikewilkinson007]

They are all the same. Clean them up and put them back in.
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72 Super - Marina Blue
1641 AH Dual Port
Dual Weber ICT 34's
Bosch 034

Long Gone: 70 Vert, 66, 68, 73SB, 70, 72, 61 Rag and a 64 with a cinder block in the spare tire well.

[miller0358]

If you look close, there is a bevel on each one, they go on either side, but rotate them so they fit flat on the shoe. Put them on and take a good look at them with the shoe on. Then rotate one and see the difference in how it sits. Very easy to see. Jeff

[vamram]

As for the uneven drum, the only place I've found out here that will do it wants $90. For me, it's cheaper to replace the drum if it's going to need turning.
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'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
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Save the Supers!!

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[ashman40]

This pic should help....

Note the thicker side of the adjuster slot sits on the outside. This has the effect of "lifting" the shoes slightly towards the wheel cylinders.

That your two adjusters are so different implies there was a problem. Maybe one of the pistons in the wc is stuck? Check everything when you put it back together. WC are cheap. Cheap enough that you could replace them anytime you take the drums off for service. Just be sure to get good quality parts.
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AshMan40
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'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!}

[Cusser]

[ashman40]

[Cusser]

[andk5591]

echoing what has been said...Here's what happens:

The one adjuster got rusted fast and they could only adjust the one side.
They didnt know what they were doing
The wheel cylinder has issues.

If the parts look crusty and stopping the car is kind of important, I typically like to just replace everything and be done with it. Inspect your soft brake lines as well. Any checking, cracking or apparent swelling means they should be replaced - if they look old, do it anyway. Good time to repack or replace your wheel bearings. If you are replacing the drums, they need replaced anyway...or should be IMHO.

I have actually had really good luck getting drums for supers at my local parts store, but there are all kind of opinions on that.

Here's the thing - you do this all now and you wont be worrying about it for maybe 50,000 miles except for periodic adjustments.
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D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[Tim Donahoe]

A couple years ago, Napa sold me two new Zimmerman (German) rear drums for $60 apiece.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[cletus_zuber]

Junk the whole front drum mess.

Convert to front disk brakes with easy to install kits available from many vendors at probably the same cost to replace all the drum stuff.
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1972 1302
HPMX 40's & 019

[Cusser]

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