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**gldgti** · 26-08-2008, 10:01 PM

anthing with around the 38mm offset should fit up ok...

those calipers are your vw variety rubbish, and should be ditched in place of some more modern ones if you can afford it - like mk2 or mk1/2 gti. bolt up nicely.

otherwise, do what i did and grind away the outside of the caliper with the old angle grinder. the outer caliper body is pressed steel and substantially over engineered. i had to grind about 8mm off my old GLD ones in order to fit some 13x6" CSA alloys (back in the day).

but save yourself a headache and get some 14's and some newer brakes.

if your after some 14's i have several sets. some mk2 gti steelies if your interested pm me

**gsand** · 26-08-2008, 10:06 PM

Thanks for the fast reply.

Wheels I am trying to fit are almost completely flat on the rear, so its going to be tough. Sticking to 13's.

Is that piece load bearing? I haven't had a chance to sus it out, other than the sheer thickness of the steel.

So mk2 and mk1gti calipers will have loads more clearance, AND work with my current discs??

Cheers

**h100vw** · 26-08-2008, 10:12 PM

Originally posted by gsand View Post

Thanks for the fast reply.

Wheels I am trying to fit are almost completely flat on the rear, so its going to be tough. Sticking to 13's.

Is that piece load bearing? I haven't had a chance to sus it out, other than the sheer thickness of the steel.

So mk2 and mk1gti calipers will have loads more clearance, AND work with my current discs??

Cheers

They should do, you just use non-gti pads which have more material on them.

You could use vented discs as well with GTI calipers.

Gavin

**Golf Loon** · 26-08-2008, 10:19 PM

Get better brakes mate.

You need different hubs to run the GTI calipers and they have different size balljoints on the wishbones.

I have one complete set of everything, hit me up if you need.
Matt

**gsand** · 26-08-2008, 10:49 PM

thanks for the tips guys.

i know brakes are essential but i don't really want to spend unnecessary money just to fit some wheels.

i'll try the grinding method and find out how much meat i need to clear the wheels

anyway, im not too fussed about brake performance, aslong as they work well enough. the car is just a cruiser sorta thing, low and slow, you know!!! only drive it bout once a week.

**gldgti** · 27-08-2008, 11:43 AM

Originally posted by gsand View Post

thanks for the tips guys.

i know brakes are essential but i don't really want to spend unnecessary money just to fit some wheels.

i'll try the grinding method and find out how much meat i need to clear the wheels

anyway, im not too fussed about brake performance, aslong as they work well enough. the car is just a cruiser sorta thing, low and slow, you know!!! only drive it bout once a week.

fair nuff

the outer caliper (i use the term "housing" loosely here) is a loaded member of the caliper as i remember, however its construction is such that removing some material from the edge that fouls the wheel will not reduce the working capacity of the design by much.... chop 'em

**Jarred** · 27-08-2008, 11:46 AM

What wheels have you got out of curiousity? A member on here previous had gemini wheels and had to shim the "housing" a bit in order to fit the wheels. (i believe there were standard calipers)

i'm sure there's been a few people on here that have done it before..

**Oneofthegreats** · 27-08-2008, 05:54 PM

Unfortunately it's not just VW's that have this problem.

Alot of car's have shallow offset brake disc's which mean the caliper's sit out a fair way & you need rim's which a dish on the inside to clear this.

I personally wouldn't grind anything off the brake caliper. It's your life your grinding away on.

I'd try & find wheel's that fit properly.

You can actually fit GTI caliper's & disc's to stock mk1 hub's, as I've done it to several of my car's & I sold a set to Jarred which they bolted straight up.

There are different hub version's between early 76/77 with 14mm ball joint's & later incl. diesel model's with 17mm balljoint's.

The only drama I've had with the stock MK1 GTI caliper's was an adapter to space them out for 280mm disc's.

**paulie71** · 28-08-2008, 09:04 PM

I too have used GTI brakes on an old Mk1 many moons ago. They fitted nicely under the standard 13" rims. Only issue is to find pads as the normal ones are too thick.

I think they're rattling around downstairs somewhere.

**Peter Jones** · 28-08-2008, 09:13 PM

Mk2 14x6 Steel wheels will clear those calipers - one of my cars runs that setup.

Otherwise consider widening the original 13's.

Seat 13' alloys might be another option

Pete

**gsand** · 28-08-2008, 10:06 PM

thanks alot for the input guys.

I personally would like to widen the original steelies, but I cant find anybody that sells 13x7 barrels, and I'm not willing to pay the price of getting mine banded.

The wheels Ive got my eye on are dragway 4 spokes, gemini fitment (offset 20 or something)

**greasykitchen** · 29-08-2008, 07:13 PM

At the risk of hijacking this thread, I have a similar question.

What would be the simplest, most cost effective (as in not too pricey) method of upgrading the brakes on my '76 MK1. I'm due to have the fronts relined soon as the already meagre braking power of the golf is not at its best (I swear my all drum braked beetle stopped better).

I have and want to retain the standard rims, and would prefer not to have to change the wheel hubs? MK2 or GTi callipers?

Finally, gsand where and when around Adelaide might we see your golf?

**Peter Jones** · 29-08-2008, 10:03 PM

Originally posted by greasykitchen View Post

What would be the simplest, most cost effective (as in not too pricey) method of upgrading the brakes on my '76 MK1. I'm due to have the fronts relined soon as the already meagre braking power of the golf is not at its best (I swear my all drum braked beetle stopped better).

I have and want to retain the standard rims, and would prefer not to have to change the wheel hubs? MK2 or GTi callipers?

Just making it all new again would go a long way. They actually pull up OK if everything is working properly. If it's bigger stoppers you must have this setup works for me.

MK1 GTI Vented Discs and matching calipers
MK3 Rear Discs and Calipers
Scirocco Handbrake cables
Modified MK3 booster and 22mm Master cylinder

I think I've done just about everything possible now

, here's some light reading for you.

Cordoba Rear Brakes

Installing Cordoba rear drums on a MK I. - VWWatercooled Australia

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=11719

Disc replacement

Today's disc brake replacement story. - VWWatercooled Australia

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=11723

All Golf Mk1

More brakes

Brakes! - Another holiday job. - VWWatercooled Australia

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=11595

All Golf Mk1

Shocks
http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=11535

Late Model Booster