JBugs - 1971 VW Super Beetle - Front Disc Brake Conversion Kit Installation

View our complete selection of air-cooled VW parts on the JBugs website: www.jbugs.com/
We had planned on pulling our 1971 Super apart in preparation for paint and body work but that got put on hold when we saw EMPI's new premium disc brake installation kits. Follow along as we show you the features of the Front Super Beetle Bolt On Disc Brake and show how easy it is to convert your Super Beetle over to disc brakes.
Intro 0:00
Disc brake kit overview: 0:54
Brake caliper prep: 1:26
Brake rotor prep: 2:05
Vehicle prep: 2:33
Drum brake disassembly: 2:52
Brake caliper bracket installation: 3:40
Brake rotor installation: 4:03
Brake caliper installation: 5:00
Brake line installation: 5:55
-------------------------------------------------------------
Tools used in this video:
Needle Nose Pliers
Lineman Pliers
Rubber Mallet
Flat Head Screwdriver
5.5mm Allen Wrench
7mm Allen Wrench
11mm Wrench
17mm Wrench
18mm Wrench
Adjustable Wrench
3/8" Drive Ratchet
6" Extension
1/2" Impact Driver
15mm Socket
17mm Socket
18mm Socket
19mm Socket
Jack
Jack Stands
Wheel Chocks
Chemicals Used:
Disc Brake Grease
Brake Cleaner
Bearing Grease
Medium Thread Locker
-------------------------------------------------------------
The parts used in this video are:
Front Premium Super Beetle Disc Brake Kit (22-6140)
www.jbugs.com/product/22-6140...
Stainless Steel Braided Hoses (5588)
www.jbugs.com/product/5588.html
Inner Wheel Bearings (311405625B)
www.jbugs.com/product/3114056...
Outer Wheel Bearings (311405645)
www.jbugs.com/product/3114056...
Inner Wheel Seals (321501641)
www.jbugs.com/product/3215016...
Brake Line Clips (113611715A)
www.jbugs.com/product/1136117...
Speedometer Cable Clip (speedoclip)
www.jbugs.com/product/speedoc...
Hose Clamps (MH28)
www.jbugs.com/product/MH28.html
EMPI 914 Wheels (9681-4 EMPI)
www.jbugs.com/product/9681-4....
14mm Thread In Wheel Studs (9484)
www.jbugs.com/product/9484.html
Porsche Style Lug Nuts (70-2868)
www.jbugs.com/product/70-2868...
Lug Nut Caps (133-173)
www.jbugs.com/product/133-173...
All parts used in this video are available at: www.jbugs.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on our social media accounts!
Instagram - / jbugs_california_pacific
Facebook - / jbugsvwparts
Twitter - / jbugsvwparts
-------------------------------------------------------------
Music Provided By:
Keep It Real by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: audionautix.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------
Videos are intended for entertainment purposes. Factory specifications should be followed when performing any task on your vehicle.

[@malkucken]

Thank you for this video. This is on my to do list. I like how you speed things up!

[@SladesVWBeetle]

I never did disc on any of mine yet, but this time around I feel the need to put them on.

[@VWLifeVW]

great video!, good information making those timid to tackle this on their own!

[@logandumais7442]

VW Life baby!! Don’t forget to tell your aunts and uncles bout J Bugs!!😜🤘

[@carlostrujillo3854]

Great video thanks for your expertise

[@JBugsVWParts]

Thanks for watching!

[@doubled398]

Great video because my convertion instructions (empi) were very lacking

[@truckerenoch8824]

I'll probably be censored again, but ...Empi is junk for the most part. They have a few good items. I personally wouldn't use them, but I know the budget dictates the purchase. I have very little faith in cheap parts from €hyna ...especially when it involves my brakes. Lol

[@Sam_Mebane]

@@truckerenoch8824 We have installed and used the EMPI disc brake kits on our own cars for 20 years. Are some parts that EMPI supplies junk? Absolutely, and we'll tell you when they are (see our pedal assembly video on the 71 Super). Use them or don't use them, it's your call but we have 100% faith in the disc brake kits and sell hundreds of them.

[@isaacandhisgrandpasdailyli9199]

I ordered this kit for my 71 super beetle and the rear brakes too great braking now on my bug

[@SladesVWBeetle]

Rafalito Barros That’s what I need to do! I bet it made a big difference

[@djjonnybong]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@Sam_Mebane]

Our pleasure!

[@benkanobe7500]

They look like BMW calipers. What calipers are they copies of and what disc pads can we purchase to replace them when they wear out? I am definitely going to add these to my '73 standard bug!!

[@Sam_Mebane]

The calipers are stock Karmann Ghia calipers. We offer a few different versions - www.jbugs.com/product/98-1150-B.html - EMPI www.jbugs.com/product/311615107BR.html - TRW www.jbugs.com/product/16-2526-0.html - Wilwood (the Wilwood calipers use special pads) The pads for the EMPI and TRW are stock 1971-1972 Karmann Ghia / 1966-1971 Type 3 units - www.jbugs.com/product/D-101.html

[@douglasbarnhart3324]

I'm ordering a set for my 67 beetle I'm guessing it install the Sam way.

[@Sam_Mebane]

Ha, thanks, but hopefully that way isn't exactly as I did here. Your 67 Beetle has different front suspension than this 71 Super!

[@donnavanderbeek9618]

Ever install porches breaks in 1977 bug

[@ceodrpalma4466]

Hello, great video...what torq you give to the new bit for new rims???

[@Sam_Mebane]

Gudntite is the torque specs I use. VW recommends about 90 foot pounds for 14mm lug nuts. I do a little less with aluminum wheels.

[@iPACKgoldDOTS]

I just put my kit on with the wilwood calipers. Too bad they hit the factory wheel and now the car isn't drivable until I either get spacers or new wheels. So frustrating.

[@Sam_Mebane]

I'd want to get rid of the stock wheels to begin with so the calipers could be seen.

[@iPACKgoldDOTS]

@@Sam_Mebane so do I, but I wasn't ready to buy wheels yet. Now the car is not movable

[@Sam_Mebane]

@@iPACKgoldDOTS some washers behind the wheel might help as an impromptu spacer.

[@lunarpking]

I just bought a similar kit for my 74 Super, I've never jacked the car up for anything before, where are good places to put my jackstands? I bought an EMPI plate to use in the stock jack holes so I can use my floor jack to lift one side at a time, doing disks in front and rebuilding the drums in the back.

[@JBugsVWParts]

At the front end, we put the jackstands at the front of the floor pans. You’ll see a raised rib running from side to side at front of the floors. At the rear, we place the jackstands underneath the torsion tube that runs from side to side at the back of the floor pans.

[@lunarpking]

Incredibly helpful, I'll be starting this rebuilt this weekend. Thank you for the help and the videos. Not to mention the whole parts business as well.

[@oaljaloudi3091]

Hello, can we install abs speed sensors on 70 beetle? I was thinking if anyone have done abs install on classical beetles!

[@Sam_Mebane]

I'm not going to say it can't be done because someone with enough time, tools and technical "know how" certainly could. I'm not aware of any parts, kits or components that would facilitate adding ABS to a Vintage VW.

[@whatsstefon]

When doing a disc brake conversion, do you still use the same master cylinder? Or are the callipers on disc brake conversion kits matched to work with OEM master cylinders? I'm asking also because I just acquired a 73 Super Bug with front discs (I assume it's a conversion since the history of the car is unknown).

[@JBugsVWParts]

If only the front brakes have been swapped to discs, the stock master cylinder can be used, yes.

[@whatsstefon]

JBUGS thank you for clearing that up. I just begun a new project and it already has front discs but I’m restoring this bug mechanically and the brakes really don’t seem that much better than having all drums. So I was curious if it was because the master cylinder ratio was now not matched to the pistons on the disc brake callipers. I know not a lot of folks think about this when they do conversions. So I really appreciate you confirming this.

[@Ali7fiver]

Hello. How can I find out the exact CC of my beetle engine through Engine Number and Chassis Number?

[@Sam_Mebane]

www.jbugs.com/category/vw-vin.html

[@stevenboykin4709]

Bought this kit and my wheel (which is a 15) doesn’t fit. The caliper rubs the wheel. Any suggestions?

[@Sam_Mebane]

It is fairly common (read through some of the above comments) for some aftermarket wheels to rub the calipers. Depending on how much interference there is, either the caliper can be clearanced or wheel spacers can be used.

[@pepomow]

this new rotors where i can buy it ? or is there any rotors for another kind of a car suit it? please help as the water of rain kill my brakes!

[@Sam_Mebane]

The kits with the rotors are available at JBugs.com. The rotors can be ordered individually by calling in.

[@michaelknight2897]

What is the typical offset of disc brakes (not the zero offset versions of course)?

[@Sam_Mebane]

It comes down to the specific kit, most of ours are zero or near zero unless otherwise listed.

[@wilhelmschoeman2166]

Does one need to replace the master break cylinder as well?

[@Sam_Mebane]

No, not unless you are swapping to 4 wheel disc brakes.

[@johnnyturbo8460]

Where did you all get the front spoiler that's on that bug? I ordered my front brake conversion,,, I look forward to the install once they show up

[@wanmohdfaridwanmohamad3106]

i dont see a brake oil this set not used oil is`t ?

[@Sam_Mebane]

@@wanmohdfaridwanmohamad3106 are you asking about brake fluid? We didn't actually bleed the brakes in this video as at this point in the restoration we were preparing to pull the car apart. When we did bleed the brakes we used DOT4 brake fluid.

[@Sam_Mebane]

We got it out of Europe, they can be hard to find.

[@johnnyturbo8460]

@@Sam_Mebane ok thanks

[@carsonbloms3758]

does the caliper clear the rotor face so you can run a adapter?

[@Sam_Mebane]

No, so depending on which adapter you are considering it may or may not clear.

[@julieulloa5314]

In a 77 SB Convertible, can i go from 4 lug to 5?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Yes, we offer 5x130/5x4.75 disc brake conversion kits for the 77 Super.

[@58Repairables]

Because drum brakes have a pressure check valve in the master cylinder, does that too need to be replaced? My assumption is yes, but want to be sure...

[@JBugsVWParts]

Some master cylinders have a check valve, some don’t. We rarely come across them but if we do, and we are swapping out to disc brakes, we replace the master cylinder. If you are only swapping the front to discs, we recommend a stock replacement master cylinder that does not have the check valves. If you are swapping to front and rear discs, we recommend a large bore master cylinder.

[@SladesVWBeetle]

@@JBugsVWParts Is there a way to tell if you have a check valve?

[@Sam_Mebane]

@@SladesVWBeetle The check valve will be an "extra" fitting threaded into the master cylinder. The brake line would thread into the new fitting.

[@manningcustom]

I have a 74 karmann ghia. Will the same part work?

[@Sam_Mebane]

No this kit is specific to a Super Beetle.

[@Williamfeuz]

Is this process about the same on a standard beetle?

[@Sam_Mebane]

It is similar but depending on whether you are doing a bolt on kit, or a kit with replacement spindles, the process might be a little more involved.

[@z-592-z4]

Is this a similar process for a 69 ? I’d assume so but I need to be sure

[@Sam_Mebane]

In general terms, yes. It really comes down to the specific kit. Some are more similar, others involve more parts and therefore install differently.

[@malkucken]

Can the original wheels be refitted?

[@quillmaurer6563]

The stock wheels fit over these calipers just fine - they were designed for use on Ghias that used the same wheels, in fact I think Super Beetles in other markets came with them stock. My car has American Eagle 8-spoke wheels, which hit the calipers, had to grind off about a millimeter from the calipers to make them clear.

[@hectorzapata4295]

Hi, did the front air dam come with the car?

[@JBugsVWParts]

No, the Kamei front air damn was sourced from a supplier in Europe.

[@SladesVWBeetle]

Héctor They’re hard to get!

[@jondavis7701]

Why not use the 60 degree lugnuts since the product description for the rims ( www.jbugs.com/product/9681-4.html ) indicates using 00-9519? ( www.jbugs.com/product/9519.html ) "and the 4x130 drilled pattern requires 60 degree conical seat lug nuts or lug bolts"

[@Sam_Mebane]

Good attention to detail Jon. The wheels we used on our car were actually older versions with a ball seat so we used the according lug nuts. The newer wheels have a cone seat so of course we recommend use the corresponding lug nut with them.

[@jotac14]

No brake fluid flush?

[@Sam_Mebane]

As this car was being pulled apart shortly after for a complete restoration, no. We did flush the brakes here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2TddaFra5ubebM

[@yewboup1]

What's with the creepy hand sticking out from under the car at 6:47?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Haha, that was one of our camera guys....

[@MrStevenbakeris]

What size tire are on the front?

[@Sam_Mebane]

In this video, they tires are still the stock 165SR15 size which are too large and will scrub with the suspension this low. Eventually we ended up on 205/40R17 tires - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXzafayah9aYjrc

[@Sam_Mebane]

In this video, the tires are the stock 165SR15 which are too large and will scrub with the suspension this low. Eventually we ended up on 205/40R17 tires - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXzafayah9aYjrc

[@MrStevenbakeris]

thanks.@@Sam_Mebane I currently have my 71 on the lowest setting on the front, Running 165/45/15. I just picked up some new 15 inch wheels and want to go slightly wider, 175/55/15.

[@gafrers]

What diameter are those rotors?

[@Sam_Mebane]

The rotors are 11".

[@gafrers]

@@Sam_Mebane Thank You very much for answering

[@luisortiz5504]

Tires size on this video?

[@JBugsVWParts]

We used sourced 195/55R15 tires from a local tire store.

[@luisortiz5504]

@@JBugsVWParts Thank you

[@jack002tuber]

Those brake pads are so tiny. 😅

[@Sam_Mebane]

Fortunately so are the cars! They make a big difference in stopping power over drums though, despite the seemingly small size.