Why 944?

[Bruce2]

Originally Posted by Wally

The 'silly' brake shoes are actually IRS (super)bug brakeshoes... Bet you didn't know that huh? It makes sense also, as the complete steel IRS arm is essentially a VW part as well.

I just had the chance to work on some 944 rear brakes, and got to see those "silly" brakes first hand. They are not even close to Beetle rear shoes. First, the dia of the shoes are right around 7" vs 9.1" for a Beetle rear. Also, the 944 e-brake shoes are a lot narrower. I don't know where you dreamed it up that they were the same.

I also compared the mounting flanges. The 944 flanges push the wheel further out by 16mm compared to a 914 rotor on a Type 3 hub (also the CB rotohub) If your wheels have a small offset, this works against you.

I'm gonna do some weight comparisons soon.

[Panelfantastic]

Bruce, you are not helping the cause. You are shooting holes in years of mind washing and convincing that the Porky brakes are the only way to go. If my wife reads this, there is no way I will get to waste tons of money on the oversized eye candy/brakes I want. How dare you back up your blasphemy with actual comparisons and facts!


(I know Bruce has sense of humour, to anyone else who is offended, I'm only funnin' with Bruce about the brake debate)

Jeff-

[Steve C]

Hi

Ive got say that I was pretty unimpressed with E brake on my steel 944 arms that I had on my 1302. They would not lock the rear wheels and would not slow the car at speed, but they held OK on hills, I suspect that this was something to do with the VW lever - 944 E brake ratio.

Im going to use 944 system complete on my new car with the E brake lever mounted next to the drivers seat between the door, this might make entrance into the car a pain in the arse (in more ways than one).

When I had Porsche brakes on my 1302, I learnt to lip read, when I pulled up in traffic you could see people in other cars saying that bug has Porsche brakes on it.

Steve