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Anti-lock brakes (ABS) |
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The 1979-1993 Cabriolets do not have ABS brakes!
From 1984 onward, Cabriolets received vented front disc brakes as standard
equipment. |
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Swapping rear drum brakes
for discs |
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A popular brake upgrade is replacing the rear drum brakes with discs.
Click here for a how-to.
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Hard brake
pedal |
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If the brake pedal is extremely hard to push and the engine idles fast (or,
dies at a stop), this is indicative of a leaking/broken brake booster vacuum
hose.
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Tips on
replacing rear drum brakes |
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Anytime you do work to the rear brakes, do only one side at a time!
This allows you to use the other side as a reference to ensure that
everything is put back together properly. In case you removed both
sides, here are reference images:
(courtesy of "briano1234" of toplessrabbit.com) |
(courtesy of Andrew B.) |
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Silverstone ("teardrop")
wheel lock key |
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If your original key has been lost, head to your local auto parts store and
buy an 8mm triple-square bit. |
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Tire
pressure |
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Minimum psi/bar: what the factory recommends (should be on the driver's side
door jamb sticker).
Maximum psi/bar: what the tire sidewall states.
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What
wheel size is best? |
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Click here for The Highway Collective's take on what sizes look good on
any A1 chassis Volkswagen, including the Cabriolets... while being rather
amusing, it does speak the truth.
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Wheel/offset/tire
sizes that can be used on Cabriolets |
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Wheel Sizes |
Offsets (ET) |
Tire Sizes |
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5J x 13 |
45 |
175/70/13 |
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5½J x 13 |
38 |
175/70/13
175/80/13 |
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6J x 13 |
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185/60/13
205/60/13
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6J x 14 |
35, 38 |
175/65/14
185/60/14
195/45/14
195/55/14
195/60/14 |
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6½J x 13 |
0 |
195/60/13 |
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6½J x 14 |
30 |
185/50/14
185/60/14
195/45/14 |
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6J x 15 |
38 |
165/45/15
185/55/15
195/50/15 |
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6½J x 15 |
33 |
205/50/15 |
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7J x 14 |
25 |
185/55/14
185/60/14
195/45/14
195/55/14
195/60/14
225/40/14 |
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7J x 15 |
15**, 20, 24, 25, 28*, 35* |
165/45/15
195/45/15
195/50/15
205/50/15 |
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7J x 16 |
20**, 35*, 40* |
185/50/16
195/40/16
205/40/16
205/45/16 |
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7½J x 16 |
35* |
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7J x 17 |
40* |
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__J x 17+ |
May cause rubbing, especially with
lowered suspension; ride quality will be reduced. |
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8+J x __ |
May require fender rolling and/or spacers
in order to fit, especially if lowering the suspension; depending on offset, may also result in "poke"**. |
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Blue = stock sizes
All Cabriolets have an OEM bolt pattern of
4x100.
* Spacers may be required for the rears;
grinding down the calipers and/or fender rolling may also be required
for the fronts.
** Without any modifications,
wheels/tires may sit beyond the fender flares (aka "poke").
Notes:
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Lowering the suspension plays a role in
what wheel & tire sizes you choose. Keep the aspect ratio
close to stock to minimize rubbing. Examples:
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As you increase the wheel size from
stock, decrease the tire sidewall size:
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6J x14: 185/60/14
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6J x 15: 195/50/15
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6J x 16: 195/40/16
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Factory/Stock Cabriolet
Wheels |
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Avus
16½ lbs.; 6Jx14
ET38 offset
P/N 171601025H |
BBS RA
15 lbs.; 6Jx15
ET35 offset
P/N 165601025 |
BBS RA
15 lbs.; 6Jx15
ET35 offset
P/N 165601025BFL |
Estoril
16½ lbs.; 6Jx15
ET38 offset
P/N 191601025Q |
Le Castellet
14.5 lbs.; 6Jx14
ET38 offset
P/N 191601025F |
Le Castellet
15 lbs.; 6Jx15
ET35 offset
P/N 357601025G |
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"Manhole Cover"
14 lbs.; 5Jx13
ET45 offset
P/N 171601025C |
Silverstone
19 lbs.; 6Jx14
ET38 offset
P/N 321601025N |
(Steel A)
16 lbs.; 5Jx13
ET45 offset
P/N 321601025K |
(Steel B)
16 lbs.; 5½Jx13
ET38 offset
P/N 321601025G |
 (Steel
C)
16 lbs.; 5½Jx13
ET38 offset
P/N |
(Steel D)
16 lbs.; 5½Jx13
ET38 offset
P/N 191601025D |
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(Steel E)
17 lbs.; 6Jx14
ET38 offset
P/N 191601025K |
"Tarantula"
13½ lbs.; 5½Jx13
ET38 offset
P/N 171601025J |
"Turtleback"
14 lbs.; 5Jx13
ET45 offset
P/N 531601025A |
Zandvoort
15 lbs.; 5½Jx13
ET38 offset
P/N 191601025J |
Zandvoort
16 lbs.; 6Jx14
ET38 offset
P/N 357601025C |
Hockenheim
13½ lbs.; 5½Jx13
ET38 offset
P/N 191601025H |
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Color code for the
"chrome colored metallic" steel, Hockenheim, Le Castellet, "Tarantula", BBS RA,
"Manhole Cover", "Turtleback" and Zandvoort wheels: L091. |
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All stock Cabriolet
wheels have a bolt pattern of 4x100.
= North America
= Europe
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Wheel
names |
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Most folks are unaware that many Volkswagen
alloy wheel names derive from the car racing world, including those used on
Cabriolets.
Avus: Named after the AVUS
racing circuit near Berlin, Germany.
Estoril:
Autódromo do Estoril, a race course in Estoril, Portugal.
Hockenheim:
Named after Hockenheimring, a race course near the town of Hockenheim in
Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Le Castellet:
Circuit Paul Ricard, a racing circuit located near the southern France town
of Le Castellet.
Silverstone: Named
after the race track in Northampton in central England.
Zandvoort:
Circuit Park Zandvoort, a racing circuit near the coastal city of Zandvoort
in the northern part of the Netherlands. |
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