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vpogv
09-10-2008, 05:16 AM
I need some help figuring out what caliper and rotor is what. I am 99% sure that the right caliper and rotor is from a Ghia, but clueless on the left ones. The rotor is just a little different around the center hold, but the bearings are the same for both. Any ideas?

http://pogspalace.com/gallery/data/media/26/DSC02093.JPG
http://pogspalace.com/gallery/data/media/26/DSC02094.JPG
http://pogspalace.com/gallery/data/media/26/DSC02100.JPG
http://pogspalace.com/gallery/data/media/26/DSC02099.JPG

Spacenut
09-10-2008, 01:25 PM
I understand the 1500 Beetle was very rare Stateside, but the left hand calipers look just like my old disc brake units (the 1500 had the desirable combination of disc brakes with the traditional torsion bar front beam).

The Ghia units look very unfamiliar, but then it is a much older design (I think the first disc-braked Beetles were manufactured in '67, but I'll wait for a Beetle-buff to confirm :D)

Lauren

letterman7
09-10-2008, 02:46 PM
Lauren's correct - the left hand caliper is a Ghia unit, the right is an ATE Bus caliper (I think)...which would make sense since you're running a Bus tranny! I found a photo of my old Ghia setup on my Sterling and the left hand caliper matches. The problem is I have two Bus calipers here in the shop, and they don't match the right hand photo - but styles have changed over the years, and I think almost all the calipers are the same basic style now.

vpogv
09-10-2008, 03:10 PM
The right caliper and rotor were off of the spare beam I have, the left ones were from the Sterling. Did you mean to say the left ones were a bus unit? Now the big question, are the rotors interchangable as far as working with the calipers? They are the same diameter the only difference is the middle of the rotor which I do not think will affect anything. Actually looking into the rotors more it seems the only difference is one is a German rotor and one is a Brazilian.

German -
http://www.bfyobsoleteparts.com/1967-74-german-front-brake-rotor-pr-2924.html
Brazilian -
http://www.bfyobsoleteparts.com/1967-74-brazilian-front-brake-rotor-pr-2917.html

letterman7
09-10-2008, 04:02 PM
No, the left ones are the Ghia units. If both brake discs are the same diameter and thickness and offset, you should be able to use either one, but I'd replace all the rotors with genuine German parts. Ghia discs aren't expensive. Try to stay away from the Brazilian stuff...too many stories of rotors and drums failing due to cheap metal.

Big Birds Car
09-10-2008, 05:22 PM
The centre of the disc's should only affect the wheels you use. One is a larger diameter than the other and so you may want to just check that the wheels you use have the correct hole in the middle. It made a difference to me when I fitted wheel spacers in that the spacers I originally got had a smaller central hole and would not fit.
Changed to 5 stud disc's as I have different wheels now so the issue was resolved that way.

vpogv
09-10-2008, 06:17 PM
Awesome, thanks guys and gals. Seems as though depending on the make of the rotor you will get a different center hub section cast. http://pogspalace.com/smilies/shrug.gif

Any clue when the year changes were for the calipers?

vpogv
09-10-2008, 06:18 PM
The centre of the disc's should only affect the wheels you use. One is a larger diameter than the other and so you may want to just check that the wheels you use have the correct hole in the middle. It made a difference to me when I fitted wheel spacers in that the spacers I originally got had a smaller central hole and would not fit.
Changed to 5 stud disc's as I have different wheels now so the issue was resolved that way.

So you are saying each rotor should be the same size, just the different center section would possible affect the wheels?

Big Birds Car
09-10-2008, 10:47 PM
So you are saying each rotor should be the same size, just the different center section would possible affect the wheels?

That's been my experience, but to be on the safe side measure one against the other for diameter, offset, thickness and bearing size but think the rotors will fit with either caliper without modification.

As for the wheels, if you already have them and they don't fit the larger centred disc you could always have the centre of the wheels turned to accommodate the difference the only thing you might have to then sort out is the centre cap and how it would fit and stay secured as on alot of the earlier wheels the centre cap used to fit from the back of the wheel and was "trapped" between the wheel mating surface and the disc.

vpogv
02-03-2009, 07:11 PM
Bringing this back up a little - any clue on the year for the Ghia calipers? Looking around it seems like they are 73-74 since they are single pin with a slot in the middle.

letterman7
02-03-2009, 07:20 PM
Might be earlier, but it doesn't matter. All aftermarket Ghia calipers are the dual pin style.

vpogv
03-03-2009, 12:03 AM
So as long as they are single pin they should work, that correct Rick?

letterman7
03-03-2009, 12:34 AM
You can use either one. I haven't seen a single pin replacement caliper in a long time. The caliper mounting ears should be the same on both the single and double pin models.