If It Was Your Rallye, What Beam Would You Put On!?

[allye 530 3 Cars]

As per the title really, as apart of my rebuild I will be putting on a rebuilt beam (def not standard!) Would you go for a 1.9 or 1.6GTI rear beam?

 

I'd always thought I would just go for a 1.6 beam as its the same width as a standard beam (isn't it!?) with bigger drums and bars etc

 

However I do like the thought of discs on the back, a lot easier to maintain but a little wider (how much?)

 

Intended use is just fast road daily driver.

 

What would YOU DO!??

 

Thanks, Ali

Edited October 19, 2010 by allye

[NeilGTi85 5]

I would go with a 1.6 beam.

 

I did on my old S16 205 (1.6 Shell), the drums were fine for fast road.

[jord294 91]

i'd go for the 1.6 spec beam aswell

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Seems sensible, I'v read ages ago about a couple of rally 205's actually converting to drums as thet are better for hand brake turns!? Not that I will be doing that of course.

 

Ali

[welshpug 1,655]

if they ever sit for any period of time, drums seem to resist corrosion far better

 

also wheel bearings are a hell of a lot cheaper, as are wheel cylinders, just the drum itself that costs a bit more than a disc.

 

I "think" a 1.6 beam sits wider than a base model as the drums are wider, but not by a large amount.

[boombang 2]

Seems sensible, I'v read ages ago about a couple of rally 205's actually converting to drums as thet are better for hand brake turns!? Not that I will be doing that of course.

 

Ali

 

I did on my old car!

 

Discs are so much easier in most ways, but short of fitting a hydraulic handbrake, drums are far more effective for playing around!

[blessed6383 0]

correct me if im wrong but aren't both 1.6 and 1.9 beams the same width and i just the stub axle length different?

[boombang 2]

yup, but think people getting at the gti drum assembly being wider than the non-gti drum assembly, therefore the actual track widens with 1.6 gti setup.

 

If this is true, I've no idea!

 

 

Also no idea if 1.6 drums make beam exactly same width as 1.9 disc setup.

Edited October 19, 2010 by boombang

[backroadpug 12]

I myself would go for a 1.6 as drums are 100 times better for h/braking round tight hair pins.

Altho 1.9 with the discs does give you some extra stopping power.

[jackherer 543]

Altho 1.9 with the discs does give you some extra stopping power.

 

They're both limited by the compensator(s) ultimately so there is no difference in stopping power.

[BERTMAN 40 1 Cars]

id go for discs, the reasoning being i change brake pads, and discs more than i do handbrake turns

 

ps - and drums are so fugly

Edited October 19, 2010 by BERTMAN

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Haha, indeed drums don't look very good, also when your talking to some one........ no its only got drums on the back not like the 1.9GTI!......

[Cameron 16]

My 205 had drums on it until very recently, but that's only because it took me so long to get hold of the bits to convert it!

 

If I were you and I had the option, I'd go for discs any day. They may not handbrake as well as drums but they do everything else better, not to mention a much better (and cheaper) choice of aftermarket pads.