Full Brake Rebuild Kit — 1958–1964 Link Pin VW Beetle & Karmann Ghia (5x205)

The complete brake system rebuild for your early Wide-5 link-pin Beetle or Karmann Ghia, in one bundle. New EMPI front and rear drum kits matched to your 5x205mm bolt pattern, plus a modern dual-circuit master cylinder upgrade for full hydraulic safety, rounded out with hand-restored German backing plates, parking brake hardware, and original cross-bar. Save $129 vs. buying separately.

For early Beetle and Ghia owners, sourcing the right brake parts is a months-long puzzle. This bundle solves it in one order — everything matched, everything verified, every component you actually need to do the job right.

Vehicle Fitment

• VW Beetle: 1958–1964, link-pin front end, swing-axle rear, 5x205mm Wide-5 bolt pattern
• VW Karmann Ghia: 1958–1964, link-pin front end, swing-axle rear, 5x205mm Wide-5 bolt pattern

Why Choose Washburn's Metal?

Washburn's Metal is a vintage VW restoration specialist. This bundle is fitment-matched and pairs new EMPI drum kits with our own hand-restored original German backing plates, e-brake levers, brackets, and cross-bar — so you get a single verified order instead of a months-long parts hunt.

What's in the Bundle

• EMPI Front Drum Brake Kit (22-4000-0): Complete kit with drums, wheel cylinders, shoes, brake hoses, hardware, and adjusting components (5x205mm link pin).
• EMPI Rear Drum Brake Kit (22-5000-0): Complete kit with drums, wheel cylinders, shoes, hoses, hardware, and axle nuts (5x205mm swing axle).
• EMPI 20.6mm Dual-Circuit Master Cylinder (16-9554-0): Modern safety upgrade that replaces the original single-circuit unit with dual-circuit hydraulics — if a line fails, you still have brakes on two wheels.
• (2) R63 Front Brake Backing Plates: Restored original German OEM, semi-gloss powder coated (left + right).
• (2) R64 Rear Brake Backing Plates: Restored original German OEM, semi-gloss powder coated (left + right).
• R70 + R71 Internal E-Brake Levers: Restored original German parts (driver + passenger).
• (2) R72 Parking Brake Cable Brackets: Restored original German parts (left + right).
• R73 Brake Push Bar (Cross Bar): Restored original German part.
• Parking brake return spring: Restored original German part.

Technical Specifications

• Bundle SKU: BDL-BRAKE-LP-5864
• Front end: Link-pin
• Rear suspension: Swing axle
• Bolt pattern: 5x205mm Wide-5
• Master cylinder: EMPI 20.6mm dual-circuit (16-9554-0)
• Component part numbers: 22-4000-0 (front drum kit), 22-5000-0 (rear drum kit), 16-9554-0 (master cylinder)
• Value: Saves $129 vs. buying components separately

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why include a dual-circuit master cylinder? Factory pre-1967 Beetles used a single-circuit master cylinder, so one fluid leak meant losing brakes at all four corners. The dual-circuit upgrade keeps brakes on two wheels if a line fails — a critical safety improvement over factory.
• Can I keep a factory-correct single-circuit master cylinder? Yes. If you need a single-circuit unit for a concours-correct restoration, contact us and we can swap it out before shipping.
• Is brake fluid included? No — fresh DOT 4 fluid is required for the bleed and is not included.

Installation

• Brake fluid not included — fresh DOT 4 fluid required for bleed
• Bleed all four corners after installation
• Inspect drums for cracks or heat scoring before reusing — kit drums are direct OE replacements if yours are out of spec

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Brakes · VW Beetle · Bundles & Kits