4 lugged rear drum on a 66 Beetle

I converted my 66 Beetle's front brakes to discs with the 4 bolt pattern
wheels. I'm not crazy about the 4 to 5 bolt adaptors so I want to buy new
wheels, all with the 4 bolt pattern. The question is, can I put a 68 4 bolt
pattern drum on my rear spindles without any problems to accept the 4 bolt
pattern wheels? I'm looking at this rear drum:

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails....%2D6 15%2DJGR

Thanks,
John

JS wrote:
> I converted my 66 Beetle's front brakes to discs with the 4 bolt pattern
> wheels. I'm not crazy about the 4 to 5 bolt adaptors so I want to buy
> new wheels, all with the 4 bolt pattern. The question is, can I put a
> 68 4 bolt pattern drum on my rear spindles without any problems to
> accept the 4 bolt pattern wheels? I'm looking at this rear drum:
>
> http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails....%2D6 15%2DJGR
>
>
> Thanks,
> John


Yes you can, I did that on my euro spec 67.
The axle may be too long for the 4 bolt drums, so you will need to use a
spacer ring under the axle nut. Maybe 1" tall or so. Can't remember
exact details.

Jan

On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:44:04 +0200, Jan Andersson
> wrote:

> JS wrote:
>> I converted my 66 Beetle's front brakes to discs with the 4 bolt
>> pattern wheels. I'm not crazy about the 4 to 5 bolt adaptors so I want
>> to buy new wheels, all with the 4 bolt pattern. The question is, can I
>> put a 68 4 bolt pattern drum on my rear spindles without any problems
>> to accept the 4 bolt pattern wheels? I'm looking at this rear drum:
>>
>> http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails....%2D6 15%2DJGR
>> Thanks,
>> John
>
>
> Yes you can, I did that on my euro spec 67.
> The axle may be too long for the 4 bolt drums, so you will need to use a
> spacer ring under the axle nut. Maybe 1" tall or so. Can't remember
> exact details.
>
> Jan

I have those drawings somewhere with the precise measures, going both ways.
Spacer or turning down of the snout of the drum.

Been out, remind me if I forget.
If Odd could speak we would be grand, as he no longer drinks.

J.


--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

I think I needed the 4-bolt drum's outer bolting surface reduced by 0.50" -
0.75" maybe for my '66.
It will work, you just need to measure both the 5 and 4 bolt drums.

Also you will have to modify backing plates to allow brake adjustments!
--
later,
(One out of many daves)



"P.J.Berg" > wrote in message
news
> On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:44:04 +0200, Jan Andersson
> > wrote:
>
>> JS wrote:
>>> I converted my 66 Beetle's front brakes to discs with the 4 bolt
>>> pattern wheels. I'm not crazy about the 4 to 5 bolt adaptors so I want
>>> to buy new wheels, all with the 4 bolt pattern. The question is, can I
>>> put a 68 4 bolt pattern drum on my rear spindles without any problems
>>> to accept the 4 bolt pattern wheels? I'm looking at this rear drum:
>>>
>>> http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails....%2D6 15%2DJGR
>>> Thanks,
>>> John
>>
>>
>> Yes you can, I did that on my euro spec 67.
>> The axle may be too long for the 4 bolt drums, so you will need to use a
>> spacer ring under the axle nut. Maybe 1" tall or so. Can't remember
>> exact details.
>>
>> Jan
>
> I have those drawings somewhere with the precise measures, going both
> ways.
> Spacer or turning down of the snout of the drum.
>
> Been out, remind me if I forget.
> If Odd could speak we would be grand, as he no longer drinks.
>
> J.
>
>
> --
> Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:
> I think I needed the 4-bolt drum's outer bolting surface reduced by 0.50" -
> 0.75" maybe for my '66.
> It will work, you just need to measure both the 5 and 4 bolt drums.
>
> Also you will have to modify backing plates to allow brake adjustments!


Umm, if and when the shoes are wider in the 4 lug drum, you need to
replace the backing plates and all hardware to 4 lug type too. Good point.

So, it sounds like the 4 lug drum's snout needs to be reduced not extended
with spacers?

John

"dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
...
> I think I needed the 4-bolt drum's outer bolting surface reduced by
> 0.50" - 0.75" maybe for my '66.
> It will work, you just need to measure both the 5 and 4 bolt drums.
>
> Also you will have to modify backing plates to allow brake adjustments!
> --
> later,
> (One out of many daves)
>
>
>
> "P.J.Berg" > wrote in message
> news
>> On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:44:04 +0200, Jan Andersson
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> JS wrote:
>>>> I converted my 66 Beetle's front brakes to discs with the 4 bolt
>>>> pattern wheels. I'm not crazy about the 4 to 5 bolt adaptors so I want
>>>> to buy new wheels, all with the 4 bolt pattern. The question is, can I
>>>> put a 68 4 bolt pattern drum on my rear spindles without any problems
>>>> to accept the 4 bolt pattern wheels? I'm looking at this rear drum:
>>>>
>>>> http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails....%2D6 15%2DJGR
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> John
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes you can, I did that on my euro spec 67.
>>> The axle may be too long for the 4 bolt drums, so you will need to use a
>>> spacer ring under the axle nut. Maybe 1" tall or so. Can't remember
>>> exact details.
>>>
>>> Jan
>>
>> I have those drawings somewhere with the precise measures, going both
>> ways.
>> Spacer or turning down of the snout of the drum.
>>
>> Been out, remind me if I forget.
>> If Odd could speak we would be grand, as he no longer drinks.
>>
>> J.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
>
>

Yes, you will have to reduce the snout by having it turned on a lathe. The
snout surface should be as perpendicular as possible, otherwise the
castle-nut will not tighten properly.
In my '67, I had it reduced 14mm on the outside, and 1.5mm on the inside
surface (where the drum sits on the bearing spacer).

You can use the 5-lug backing plates, but you have to drill holes behind the
star wheels to be able to adjust the brakes.
It would be better if you can find a set of 4-lug backing plates.

Regards,

Bill Spiliotopoulos,
'67 Bug.

"JS" > wrote in message
...
> So, it sounds like the 4 lug drum's snout needs to be reduced not extended
> with spacers?
>
> John
>
> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I think I needed the 4-bolt drum's outer bolting surface reduced by
>> 0.50" - 0.75" maybe for my '66.
>> It will work, you just need to measure both the 5 and 4 bolt drums.
>>
>> Also you will have to modify backing plates to allow brake adjustments!
>> --
>> later,
>> (One out of many daves)
>>
>>
>>
>> "P.J.Berg" > wrote in message
>> news
>>> On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:44:04 +0200, Jan Andersson
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> JS wrote:
>>>>> I converted my 66 Beetle's front brakes to discs with the 4 bolt
>>>>> pattern wheels. I'm not crazy about the 4 to 5 bolt adaptors so I
>>>>> want to buy new wheels, all with the 4 bolt pattern. The question is,
>>>>> can I put a 68 4 bolt pattern drum on my rear spindles without any
>>>>> problems to accept the 4 bolt pattern wheels? I'm looking at this
>>>>> rear drum:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails....%2D6 15%2DJGR
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> John
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yes you can, I did that on my euro spec 67.
>>>> The axle may be too long for the 4 bolt drums, so you will need to use
>>>> a spacer ring under the axle nut. Maybe 1" tall or so. Can't remember
>>>> exact details.
>>>>
>>>> Jan
>>>
>>> I have those drawings somewhere with the precise measures, going both
>>> ways.
>>> Spacer or turning down of the snout of the drum.
>>>
>>> Been out, remind me if I forget.
>>> If Odd could speak we would be grand, as he no longer drinks.
>>>
>>> J.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
>>
>>

Thanks for that information. It was very helpful.

John


"Bill Spiliotopoulos" > wrote in message
...
> Yes, you will have to reduce the snout by having it turned on a lathe. The
> snout surface should be as perpendicular as possible, otherwise the
> castle-nut will not tighten properly.
> In my '67, I had it reduced 14mm on the outside, and 1.5mm on the inside
> surface (where the drum sits on the bearing spacer).
>
> You can use the 5-lug backing plates, but you have to drill holes behind
> the star wheels to be able to adjust the brakes.
> It would be better if you can find a set of 4-lug backing plates.
>
> Regards,
>
> Bill Spiliotopoulos,
> '67 Bug.
>
> "JS" > wrote in message
> ...
>> So, it sounds like the 4 lug drum's snout needs to be reduced not
>> extended with spacers?
>>
>> John
>>
>> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> I think I needed the 4-bolt drum's outer bolting surface reduced by
>>> 0.50" - 0.75" maybe for my '66.
>>> It will work, you just need to measure both the 5 and 4 bolt drums.
>>>
>>> Also you will have to modify backing plates to allow brake adjustments!
>>> --
>>> later,
>>> (One out of many daves)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "P.J.Berg" > wrote in message
>>> news >>>> On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:44:04 +0200, Jan Andersson
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> JS wrote:
>>>>>> I converted my 66 Beetle's front brakes to discs with the 4 bolt
>>>>>> pattern wheels. I'm not crazy about the 4 to 5 bolt adaptors so I
>>>>>> want to buy new wheels, all with the 4 bolt pattern. The question
>>>>>> is, can I put a 68 4 bolt pattern drum on my rear spindles without
>>>>>> any problems to accept the 4 bolt pattern wheels? I'm looking at
>>>>>> this rear drum:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails....%2D6 15%2DJGR
>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>> John
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes you can, I did that on my euro spec 67.
>>>>> The axle may be too long for the 4 bolt drums, so you will need to use
>>>>> a spacer ring under the axle nut. Maybe 1" tall or so. Can't remember
>>>>> exact details.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jan
>>>>
>>>> I have those drawings somewhere with the precise measures, going both
>>>> ways.
>>>> Spacer or turning down of the snout of the drum.
>>>>
>>>> Been out, remind me if I forget.
>>>> If Odd could speak we would be grand, as he no longer drinks.
>>>>
>>>> J.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
>>>
>>>
>