The original online guide to the Volkswagen Cabriolet & Rabbit Convertible!
Brakes & Wheels
Last update:
January 4, 2012
Notes
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Stock, Factory Braking System
Anti- The 1979-
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: Exploded Diagram of Drum Brake
Swapping Rear Drum Brakes for Discs A popular brake upgrade is replacing the rear drum brakes with discs. Click here
for a how-
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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Tire Pressure Minimum psi/bar: what the factory recommends (should be on the driver's side door jamb decal). Maximum psi/bar: what the tire sidewall states.
Tire Size (original factory size) 13" wheel: 175/70/13 14" wheel: 185/60/14 15" wheel: 195/50/15
Tire & Wheel Size Conversion Calculators Tire, wheel and offset calculator/comparer Tire/wheel size options vs. speedometer accuracy
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Lost Silverstone ("teardrop") Center Cap Key If your original key has been lost, head to your local auto parts store and buy an
8mm triple-
Stock Factory Wheels Click here for the 6-
Stock wheel sizes: 5J x 13 ET45 5½J x 13 ET38 6J x 14 ET38 6J x 15 ET38
All stock Cabriolet wheels have a bolt pattern of 4x100.
The general consensus is that wheels 15" and smaller are best for these cars. 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. Refer to the next section for additional wheel/tire/offset information.
Wheel Names 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- 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. Zolder: Named after the racing circuit in Heusden-
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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 |
35, 38 |
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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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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