Calipers: Big one or lightweight?

[KAZ909]

Hi evil C,

Wondering what offset, brand, design etc 15" wheels you fitted that clear 944T calipers, or did you spacers with long studs.
I want to use 15" wheels as good rally tyres are only available in 15"
Thanks John

[redhot]

I guess you have to start off with prioritizing a bit;

1) Stopping power
2) Cooling ability of the brakes
3) Weight of the system
4) Ease of installation and those other things

A lightweight bug with around 195wide tires does not need much stopping power to lock-up the wheels. The original system copes with that.

So cooling; Kerscher etc addresses this in them a simple way; ventilated discs, and note; still using standard spaced-out calipers.

The weight bit is interesting; but then you also have to keep close attention to the rest of the setup; wheels, tires etc...

[SilverBullet]

This is were I found the tarox brakes setup. For all T1,2,3.
www.deikaferservice.com

[Bogara_ZO]

Originally Posted by redhot

I guess you have to start off with prioritizing a bit;

1) Stopping power
2) Cooling ability of the brakes
3) Weight of the system
4) Ease of installation and those other things

A lightweight bug with around 195wide tires does not need much stopping power to lock-up the wheels. The original system copes with that.

So cooling; Kerscher etc addresses this in them a simple way; ventilated discs, and note; still using standard spaced-out calipers.

The weight bit is interesting; but then you also have to keep close attention to the rest of the setup; wheels, tires etc...

i have the same preferences as above. but with~150hp, 17" wheels and spirited driving require more effective brakes than the original ones. The main problem is the non-porsche pattern, and I'm looking for alternative solutions to find the best setup for 5x112 pcd.

[Humble]

I think, realistically for a beetle, a ~12" (~300mm) vented rotor is about the biggest rotor you would need. 10-11" would be about perfect. For calipers, lightweight 4-pots would be best, but even 2-pot on each corner would be fine. Matching the calipers to the MC would be the biggest challenge if you choose to mix and match from different manufacturers. Another thing to consider is consumables like brake pads, high end calipers may need specific non-standard pads.

Going with a wilwood 4-pot 11" setup similar to a miata would be a great starting point and you would still be able to use 15" wheels (the best for cheap, sticky tires). My second suggestion would be a 944 turbo setup (12" rotors, 4-pots) with a 911/930 MC, with easier to find parts, possibly cheaper too.

[Bogara_ZO]

Originally Posted by Humble

I think, realistically for a beetle, a ~12" (~300mm) vented rotor is about the biggest rotor you would need. 10-11" would be about perfect. For calipers, lightweight 4-pots would be best, but even 2-pot on each corner would be fine. Matching the calipers to the MC would be the biggest challenge if you choose to mix and match from different manufacturers. Another thing to consider is consumables like brake pads, high end calipers may need specific non-standard pads.

Going with a wilwood 4-pot 11" setup similar to a miata would be a great starting point and you would still be able to use 15" wheels (the best for cheap, sticky tires). My second suggestion would be a 944 turbo setup (12" rotors, 4-pots) with a 911/930 MC, with easier to find parts, possibly cheaper too.

Thanks for the input Humble!

As I'm located in Europe I'm willing to mix european car parts. The brake pads is a very good point, that's why I'm trying to use calipers from popular cars. Actually I found a place where they make custom rotors, so maybe I should order a set with standard beetle bearing for the front with my BMW Brembo calipers that originally was used with 316x28 vented rotors. They may clear some 16" as well...the only thing I'm not pleased is the weight: each one is nearly 4 kg, that is a lot! so maybe I should pick up a Porsche caliper that - based on Clive's measurements - weights < 3 kg each

I will check the mentioned wilwood setup as well

[Humble]

Something like the wilwood superlite 120-11129 4-pot that takes a 1.1" thick disc. There's tons of rotors and rotor hats to choose from, a long list can be found at summitracing.com and you can order there or get the part numbers and order locally.

[evilC]

Originally Posted by KAZ909

Hi evil C,

Wondering what offset, brand, design etc 15" wheels you fitted that clear 944T calipers, or did you spacers with long studs.
I want to use 15" wheels as good rally tyres are only available in 15"
Thanks John

Hi John,

The wheels are 6" teledials (at the moment) and I added 30mm spacers that was as much to fill the arches as to clear the calipers. With those wheels it would need only small spacers ~5-10mm to clear shaved calipers and maybe none at all as the teledials have a very deep and thick well that causes the clearance issues.

The calipers were originally for a 16" wheel with the 299mm disc so since I was already committed to the wheels and the disc, I slotted the mounting holes, added crescent fillers and relieved the pads. All of that was more to fit the disc rather than anything else. I will when the pads have worn revert to the 299mm disc having now got the clearance c20mm between the caliper and the wheel that results from the spacers.

Whilst I agree with you that the gravel and forest stage tyres are mostly 15", the tarmac spec tyres are more useally found in the 16+" diameters especially if you are not to affect the gearing too much.

Clive