EMPI 1966-1977 VW Beetle & Karmann Ghia Disc Brake Conversion Kit - Front - Drop Spindles - 4x130

4x130 Drop Spindle Disc Brake Kit for 1966-1977 Beetle & Karmann Ghia

• Lower your vehicle and improve the stopping power with disc brakes
• Includes brand-new, bolt-on 2.5" drop, disc brake spindles
• 4x130 brake rotors for classic VW 4 lug wheels
• Factory ride & steering geometry
• Factory based disc brake calipers & rotors
• Simple installation
• 5/8" wider track width
• May require new tie rod ends for 1966 to early 1968 veheicles
• Will likely require shorter, lower-profile tires

EMPI's 2.5 inch drop spindle, 4x130 front disc brake Kit fits 1966-1977 Standard Beetles and Karmann Ghias with a ball joint front end. With this kit, your Beetle or Karmann Ghia will have much better stopping power than the original drum brakes. This disc brake kit includes new 2.5" drop spindles, brake rotors, calipers & pads, bearings & seals, mounting hardware and instructions. These drop spindles are made for use with stock shocks. 1966 through May 1968 Beetles and Ghias will need late model outer tie rod ends to use this drop spindle disc brake conversion kit which can be added with the options above.

This kit includes the following:

• Disc brake 2.5" drop spindles
  
• 4x130 lug pattern brake rotors with 14x1.5 threads
• New brake calipers & pads
• All necessary bearings & seals
• Mounting hardware & detailed instructions

Low profile (shorter) tires must be used when installing drop spindles

We offer 145SR15 or 135SR15 tires that will fit with drop spindles. Your local tire shop can offer many other options that will work as well. It might look like there is enough room to drop the front end of your VW 2.5" and clear the stock size tire. When the vehicle is parked, there absolutely is. However, when you drive vehicle around a corner or over a speedbump, and you'll quickly discover that the stock size, 165R15 tires will rub. The more weight you have in the vehicle, the more regularly the front tires will rub.

1966 through May of 1968 models will need to swap to 1968.5 through 1977 Outer Tie Rod Ends.

If you have a 1966-1968.5 vehicle, you will have to change out the outer tie rod ends. The spindles included in this kit accept the late model tie rod ends.

• 1968.5-1977 right, outer tie rod end
• 1968.5-1977 left, outer tie rod end

Quick Bleeder Valves Recommended

We recommend adding quick bleeder valves which make bleeding your brakes much easier!

Installation Notes:

• All brake parts must be thoroughly cleaned and disc brake grease must be used on all brake pad contact surfaces or brake squeak and vibration may occur.
• The stock master cylinder can be used with front disc brakes. However, if you are converting to 4 wheel disc brakes, you must install a large bore master cylinder.
• Drop spindles can not be used on Super Beetles.

Our Expert's Take:

Stock drum brakes are adequate enough for a stock VW if all the components are in good working order. As soon as any performance modifications are made to your VW, the original brakes should be upgraded to suit. Virtually no modern cars use drum brakes, least of all on the front of the car where most of the braking power is. Updating the brakes on your VW should be considered mandatory for any car that is driven regularly. The Standard Beetle or Karmann Ghia drop spindle front disc brake kit lowers the front suspension 2.5" while maintaining the factory ride and steering which is a plus for those looking to drop the front end a bit over stock.

Sam

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Sam Mebane joined the Jbugs team way back in the mid 90's. A Class 11 racing enthusiast, Sam has amassed in-depth knowledge on VW electrical systems and Beetle suspension. He has restored a plethora of VW's including a VW Thing, Squareback, several Beetles, and (currently) a Super Beetle. Customer service, tech support, product testing & development, and youtube spokesperson, Sam has done it all here at JBugs.