If the Volkswagen Beetle or Karmann Ghia is equipped with 4-hole brake drums (from 8/1967 ) and you want to fit the old 5-hole rims (5 x 205 mm) without using an adapter, then this is the ideal solution. This brake drum has a 5-hole pitch of 205 mm and is only suitable for Volkswagen Beetles or Karmann Ghia from 8/1967 onwards, which are fitted with 4-hole rims as standard.
The brake drum is not reinforced like the original 5 holes only where the bolt holes are, but over the whole surface. This makes the brake drum much stronger than the original. Any other rim centre distance (by drilling holes) is therefore no problem, the brake drum is suitable for this.
These brake drums are only available for the rear, at the front you have to use the 5-hole brake drums between the years 8/1965 and 7/1967, these can be mounted on a Volkswagen Beetle after 8/1967 without any problems.
Attention: When using these conversion brake drums, the track of your VW is 2 mm wider per side, which can be an important factor in the choice of rims. For the VW1302 and VW1303 there is no other option than to use an adapter on the front wheels.
Additional information about wheels and wheel assembly
Before you buy a wheel you have to make sure that the PCD, ET and backspace are correct.
The width and diameter of wheels is measured in inches (1 inch = 25.4 mm), and the offset (ET-value) is expressed in mm. The offset is the distance from the hub-mounting surface to the wheel's true centerline. A positive offset (+) means the hub-mounting surface is closer to the outside edge of the wheel, i.e. the wheel wraps around the hub and brake hardware more deeply. A negative offset (-) means the hub-mounting surface is closer to the inside edge of the wheel and the wheel sticks outwards more than inwards. If you know the offset and the width of the wheel, you can determine how far the wheel sits inside or outside of the fender. We list the diameter and offset for each wheel. Please check these data before you order your wheels. A third important point is the amount of bolts and the pitch circle diameter (PCD). This relates to how the wheel is mounted. For each wheel we list the amount of bolts/nuts needed and the PCD. The PCD is the circle that can be drawn through the center of every bolt. For example: 4x130 means that the wheel has 4 bolt holes and a PCD of 130mm. You can change this by mounting other drum breaks or disc brakes or by using wheel adapters<. Please note that wheel adapters change your offset and might not be legal for street use (this depends on the laws of your country). The list below shows the stock amount of bolt holes, the PCD and the thread & pitch of the bolts/nuts that need to be used.
Attention! Always check that the bolts or nuts are of the correct type before you mount them, the seat and the thread size are crucial. If you work with bolts on drumbrakes make sure that they do not protrude and thus damage parts of the braking system. If needed shorten the bolts to the desired length.
Dimensions: In order to see whether the desired wheel has the dimensions that you need, there are several data available to help you determine the exact dimensions. The following diagram gives a clear picture of what is what and how to use them to determine the correct dimensions.
1. Backspacing
Measured from the surface of the drum or disc to the outside of the wheel, indicated in inches.
2. ET
Measured from the surface of the drum or disc to the center of the wheel. A positive value extends the wheel further inwards, a negative value extends outwards. A zero value means that it sites in the middle of the wheel. Measured in milimeters..
3. Width
The width of the wheel between the raised edges and thus not the overall outer size of edge-to-edge. Indicated in inches.
4. Diameter
The diameter of the wheel measured at the base, so not the outer edge. Indicated in inches.
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