Important Info About Your Beetle Brakes

Most Beetles before 1967 have four-wheel drum brakes (after 1967 Beetles had disc brakes). This means that your braking system is composed of a master cylinder filled with brake fluid, a push rod, wheel cylinders, brake shoes, a brake plate, and brake drums. We offer all of these replacement Beetle brake parts on this page.

Not sure which Bug brake part needs attention? Here are some signs of brake trouble and tips on troubleshooting:

•Your brake light on the instrument panel lights up. If this light goes on, your brake system needs a check-up. Don’t wait to get your brakes checked, even if it seems like your Beetle is operating fine. The light could be telling you that the hydraulic pressure is low in the brake circuit, which means your brake line or master cylinder could need replacing. In this case, your pedal will lower closer to the floor while braking and it will take you longer to stop.

•Your pedal goes half-way to the floor before the brakes kick in. This means that your brakes need adjusting or there could be air trapped in the system. As your foot lowers on the pedal, you should feel the car slowing to a stop gradually.

•You have to pump the brakes to stop the car. You’ve been putting off your brake adjustment for way too long.

•Your pedals feel soft, not firm. You could have air in your brake system, so you may need to “bleed the brakes” and get rid of any air bubbles in the pipes or brake hoses.

•You see a wet spot on the inside of your tire. This probably means you have a leak in your wheel cylinder and it must be replaced. If you replace one, we recommend replacing the other even though it may not be leaking.

•You hear a high-pitched squeal when braking. Your brake shoes or drums may be worn out.

•Note: Front brakes do most of the work when it comes to stopping your Bug. So expect front brakes to wear out 2 to 3 times faster than your rear brakes.