Good morning,

What are the technical advantages / disadvantages between the 5 stud and 4 stud brake drums if any ?

There is more choice of wheels for the 4 stud drums.

Thanks

Mainly just down to aesthetics and choice of wheel, some folks like old banded wheels in wide 5 pattern, some prefer Centerline copies in 4 bolt etc. The threads in 5 bolt ones can be a bit weak though being only M12 compared to the 4 bolt's M14.

Thanks for that, are the brake shoes and cylynders in my 5 pattern the same as the 4 pattern ones ?

Depends on the year, you'll probably have narrower rear shoes plus matching backplates and cylinders, so if you're swaping the rears for 4 bolt use the full assemblies. You'll need to machine 14mm off the 4 bolt brake drum's 'snout' to fit the castellated nut as wide 5 splines are shorter.

Does anyone know if someone manufactures front 4 hole pattern drums to directly replace my front 5 hole pattern drums ?

I know CSP do this for rear drums.

Thanks

Does anyone know if someone manufactures front 4 hole pattern drums to directly replace my front 5 hole pattern drums ?

I know CSP do this for rear drums.

Thanks

What year's the chassis? 4 bolt front drums will fit 66-67 ball joint/wide 5 front ends with the correct bearings.

Hi, the chassis is a 1960, King & Link Pin.

No, IIRC the only option would be to use wide 5 to 4 stud adapters or a disc conversion kit that employs 4 bolt discs.

No, IIRC the only option would be to use wide 5 to 4 stud adapters or a disc conversion kit that employs 4 bolt discs.

David this topic comes up from time to time perhaps you could do a tech thread, as it seems you are the one who mostly responds on this topic.

This could explain the options and what is required when converting iether way and what is generally needed and what to look for as this would be well used and very helpfull thread for those looking into wheel changes.

If you have a bit of time

You're picking on me just because I'm the resident wheel/tyre/steering wheel/shifter fetishist...

I'll see what I can do but to be honest, I'm not that up to date with what Machine 7, SS&P, Flatlands, Limebug etc. will try to sell you, I only really know what genuine VW parts that you can swap around.

David this topic comes up from time to time perhaps you could do a tech thread, as it seems you are the one who mostly responds on this topic.

This could explain the options and what is required when converting iether way and what is generally needed and what to look for as this would be well used and very helpfull thread for those looking into wheel changes.

A technical article for the reference section would indeed be brilliant

I made a start, let me know if anything doesn't make sense folks!

http://www.beachbuggy.info/index.php/topic,2682.msg28854.html#msg28854

[My Youtube channel]

Nice work David! 

(I'd only add, make sure you tighten up the bolts on the adapters...... )

Super work David
This will be excellent help and advice for us that want to learn.
Thank you Neil