Discs on an early bus?

GDRBO · Post by **GDRBO** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 8:37 am

So far in my VW life I have mainly parted buses for motor and trans parts. I just picked up a 54 single cab that I am thinking of driving. Having built a 1776cc motor for a friends double cab and driving it on several occasions I feel I will need better brakes. Can discs, spindles and arms from the later bus be installed on an early beam?

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 10:17 am

No, you will need a baywindow drum beam (68-70) to replace the current front beam. The beam will need the albatross adjusters unless you want the front jacked up. Then steal some brakes from a late bay window and slap them on. Also you will need a dual circiut master cylinder matching the discs.

Good luck and keep us posted.

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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"

type2guy · Post by **type2guy** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 12:36 pm

oldspeed has a front disc brake kit as well. It uses porsche disc parts and is expensive. But bolts right up, gives you porsche bolt pattern, and is another option.

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 3:02 pm

there seems to be no way to stay wide 5 with disc brakes without the use of adapters, The diameter of the rotor wo`nt allow it. Bob

bob mrazik · Post by **bob mrazik** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 8:11 pm

ok, let me throw this one into the picture. i had put later model spindles and brakes (later than 63 but no later than 67) onto my 63 bus because the 63 brake parts were getting to hard to find.
is there a kit that one could put discs onto a later splittie set up like i had? or would one have to go with the setup described in the previous post?

just wondering bob

GDRBO · Post by **GDRBO** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 8:44 pm

So like the bug, the bus beam changed too?

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 11:39 pm

GDRBO, I did some checking around and found only one disc brake kit for early type 2 application. Are you a gang member? click on search catalog and fill in disc brake kit type2 part#2615107ahttp://www.wolfgangint.com/html/wolf_base.html
Hope this helps . PS I`ll be in Portland next week. Bob

[This message has been edited by Bob Ingman (edited 11-12-2001).]

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Tue Nov 13, 2001 9:43 am

Yes the beam changed. The splits use a king pin setup and the bays have ball joint style until the Vanagon came out (not sure what the Vanagon has, nor do I want to know

).

Interesting that OldSpeed has the Porsche disc kit.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Tue Nov 13, 2001 9:50 am

Hmmm, upon thinking further you could probably take an early bay beam and put drop spindles on it instead of hacking the beam. Saves effort, but more costly for the convenience.

------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"

type2guy · Post by **type2guy** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 1:14 pm

No one makes dropped splindles for Bay beams. You gotta use adjusters.

type2guy · Post by **type2guy** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 1:26 pm

No one makes dropped splindles for Bay beams. You gotta use adjusters.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 3:26 pm

Very interesting... Maybe that is an opportunity for the aftermarket guys to make drop spindles for the Bays???

------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"

type2guy · Post by **type2guy** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 5:33 pm

From what I heard, they didn't think there was enough of a demand. I know there are tons more Bays on the road...maybe they think the Bay drivers keep 'em stock more or something. Who knows. Your right though. There is a hole in the market there. BUT....the adjusters still would be better if you wanted to stick the bay beam on a splitty and get back stock height. The bay beam raises the front end 11/2 - 2 inches or something on a splitty.

For someone like me though, if the spindles dropped it 3 1/2 inches like the ones they already have for splitbuses, it'd be cool. It'd be just a tad lower than stock to give a little attitude. Would be nice!!!

Anyone ever made some home-made ones? I know there are guys who make their own for the splitbusses....I wonder how much different the process is? How do they make ball joint dropped spindles for bugs? Anyone know?

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Fri Nov 16, 2001 7:57 am

There are drop spindles for Bug ball-joints from places like CB Performance and many others... Not sure if they would fit a bay beam though???

I have not tinkered that much with bays to know them intimately... All that new fangled technology and all

------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"

GDRBO · Post by **GDRBO** » Sat Nov 17, 2001 5:39 pm

Just to clarify my 54 has the ride hight I want. I was just thinking of replacing the drum brakes with late discs.