Decision time:Replace or restore-Fr Brakes(Disc or Drum) 64 Ntch

[Ossipon]

Okay, here goes
I am initiating work on my new love, and realize how difficult it may be to source front brake cylinders.
The Notch has been sitting for decades, and I am positive the front cylinders will require major overhaul or replacement. I am not afraid of tackling overhaul, but replacement with new/refurb would be preferred. My sig other, she who must be.., thinks for safety to go ahead and just change to front Discs instead of orig drums. Thus my three questions:
1. Other than sourcing the needed items, are there other mods which need to be done?
2. How difficult is to source all the needed items for disc conversion?
3. Would it just be simpler to have the Cylinders overhauled professionally and live with them?

Thanks in advance
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Ossipon
VWs in my life:
Air
Type 1 - 59, 62, 63, 71 Super 68 KGhia/ Type 2 - 59 Single Cab / Type 3 - 64 Notch
Water
GTI 83, Jetta 81, 85, 87, 91 TDI, 98 TDI, 09 / New Beetle 99 / SportWagen 05, 13 / Tiguan 18 / T3 92

[sjbartnik]

You can find rebuilt front wheel cylinders on these very Samba classifieds, rebuilt by none other than Jim Adney, so that’s a good option if you want to keep the front drums.

It is getting harder to find the correct front brake shoes. The correct ones are 50mm wide but some vendors now are selling rear brake shoes, which are 45mm wide, as fronts. This of course will reduce the surface area of your friction material. Enough to make a big difference? I don’t know.

The other question is what shape are your drums in? You can’t get new ones and if the old ones need to be turned, you may have trouble finding a shop that can do it these days.

If you decide to go the disc brake route, CSP makes a very good front disc brake kit that keeps the wide-five wheel pattern and uses the stock spindles and wheel bearings, so it’s pretty much a bolt-on solution and very well-made. It definitely costs more than buying rebuilt wheel cylinders though.
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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650

[Jason37]

[Ossipon]

[Bobnotch]

[Erik G]

you can get rear wheel cylinders easily, they are the same as superbeetle fronts

buy 4, 2 for the rear, and 2 for parts for the front. Disassemble and use the cups and ends on the front, they are the same 22mm diameter. That's what I did on my 63 anyways...

If I wasnt concerned about correctness and numbers matching originality I would do the disc swap. It's not like 20 years ago before we got wide 5 disc kits and were stuck with 4 lug discs from late model cars

[Bobnotch]

[vwpieces]

If all the drums are good/useable keep it stock.

64-65 wheel cylinders are readily avail, NOS and reasonable. Just install new cups before using them, 7/8in or 22.2mm. Super Beetle rebuild kits are available, cheap.

50mm wide front shoes are out there. Just takes some digging and part number cross referencing to find. I was determined and scored some for the 63 on the cheep.
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68 BUS
83 JETTA TURBO DIESEL
83 2dr JETTA 16V
81 Turbo Diesel Jabbit

[KPottorff]

For my '64 T3 I sent the front shoes out to a reline service somewhere on the East Coast. Sorry that I can't remember exactly where, but the cost wasn't much over 75 dollars. The cylinders are still in decent shape, but when they start to go I'll replace it all with discs.

[Ossipon]

[vwpieces]

[Clatter]

Stock fronts being a dual-leading-shoe design, with two cylinders per wheel,
They probably don't stop much different than non-vented discs,
At least when it's dry.

If the aftermarket disc kit is a cheapie one, the drums might even work better..!


I'd say, if you're going to do the project correctly, then use the correct parts.

Only reason to use discs is to make the project easier.
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Bus Motor Build

What’s That Noise?!?

[Bobnotch]