Re: '65 Squareback brakes

[johnski@it.com.pl (John M. Kowalski)]

I think that the 1966 model year for the first Squares to the States is
correct.  Anyhoot, let's get on about the brakes because this is an
interesting issue that I had to tackle last spring.  My '65 Square also has
front drum brakes that use wider brake shoes than those found in the beetle
front drums.  Further, the rear drums (5-lug, right?) are slightly larger in
diameter than beetle drums and the shoes are also wider than rear beetle
shoes.  The Hayne's book lists the exact width in mm.  The front brake shoes
were not a problem.  However, I actually had to trace the rear shoes and fax
that picture to the store in order for them to identify the shoes as the
correct ones for my model.  Bill and Steve's was the only place where I
finally found replacement shoes for my '65.

On a sadder note, the four front brake cylinders are almost impossible to
find for this model.  I finally found mine in some old "brake Yoda's"
basement in a small village in Bavaria.  NOS, too.  

I don't know where everyone else shops, but I found that Bill and Steve's
has quite a few parts for our T3s.

Good luck!

John
'70 1302s Super
'65 1500s Variant (Squareback)