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I think this thread will be revisited frequently over the years...like I'm doing now, because we all go through what this thread is trying to address. I talk to Flat all the time, trying to figure this all out. Basically, I've decided to run n/a 944 with their single 35.9mm pistons on the rear, and some variation of 42mm 2 pot calipers on the front. I chose this based upon word from two guys who's empirical data I totally respect (not that I don't respect others, but these two guys, we can mostly all agree have a lot of experience to base their opinions upon), Steve Carter, and Walter. Both of these guys whether recently or in the past have told me they had VERY balanced brake set ups with the above mentioned sizes. In Walter's case, he used 40mm stock Ghia type front brakes, and with Steve, he said it was late T3 front brakes (which are the same as early Porsche 914/VW T4). That's enough for me. Well, in reality, I was ok with what Steve told me a couple of years ago, and Walter recently confirmed it.

The rear is very easy on an IRS Beetle. I just bought the tubes and swans Lanner (aka Flat) sells and the set up is an easy and direct bolt on with factory VW parking brake cables.

The front is not quite as straight forward, but ultimately not super difficult. Right now, I've got the 944 front spindles on my car, due mainly to the fact I bought the damn Kerscher ball joints and would hate to throw that much money away. So I'm trying to work out how to attach early 914 front calipers to the 944 spindles. The bolt spacing for the caliper(s) is the same as the 944, however, when the caliper is set on the 944 rotor, the holes are about 1/2 a hole too far away to bolt up. Oddly enough, the offset is very close to right on. If you're wondering how I'm make calipers meant for solid rotors fit over 20mm wide vented rotors, I will tell you (per info gleened from Eric Shea of PMB Performance), the 10mm spacers and all hardware from a 70-83 Porsche 911 REAR M calipers can by used to make the calipers fit (width-wise). The rear M calipers is the exact same casting as the EARLY 914 front caliper (thus also use the same pads), with spacers added.

Perhaps a FAR easier way to approach this...and one I may fall back on, CSP from Germany sells a kit that has 20mm wide vented front rotohubs in the 5x130 PCD I need. These rotors go directly onto the stock 1303 spindle and the calipers have the same bolt spacing as your typical Ghia caliper (not sure the exact measurement, but it's less than the 3 inch bolt spacing of the Porsche 944 spindle). These calipers are made to bolt to any of the many Super Beetle caliper adapters needed for those of us who don't have Super Beetle disc brake spindles (pretty much everyone in the States) and give the correct offset over the rotors. The advantage of this: It's a bolt on solution and I'd be done with it. The disadvantage: The rotors are specialized (though I BELIEVE made by Sebro) and I have no idea the source of the calipers, in the event either has to be replaced in the future, who knows if CSP will still exist and thus the parts available. In reality, CSP has been around for many many years and will likely be around for many many more. That said, I REALLY like the idea I could walk into most any auto parts store in the States and buy either calipers or rotors if need be, should I choose to use the Porsche parts. I'm going to give the Porsche parts the good college try. Honestly, all I need is an adapter to mount the calipers and I'll be good to go. I'm going to try making a pattern from plexiglas.

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