Front Discs/pads Renewal

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

Hi guys, I'll try keep this simples

 

Currently on my 1.9 GTi I have an Autofive big brake kit on the front. It has the drilled/grooved discs and has Greenstuff pads. Very very low now so will need replacing. BUT, I'm not shelling out £60+v.a.t. per disc from Autofive, plus the cost of new pads on top. It's just daft as I don't really rate the brakes anyways.

 

So I'm thinking of going back to standard size (247mm?) discs on the front with decent pads.

 

Haven't got a mahoosive budget otherwise I'd try get hold of a GTi-6 set of calipers, then buy discs/pads off Ebay etc.

 

So I'm after some good pads for fast road use, I like the look of these ones and for the price they seem very good in comparison to the spongey Greenstuff ones. http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/pro...?product=573961

 

Also seen on Ebay, some grooved 247mm discs for around £40 for the pair.

 

What I wanna know is if I fit some standard sized (but grooved for heat dispersion) discs with some good pads like the above Black Diamond ones, will there be much of a difference in performance to an overall larger diameter disc and the spongey pads that are on now.

 

I have about £90-100 to spend realisitacally inc. P&P so looking to buy wisely.

 

Any advice on what to buy, opinions etc, and experiences of going from big brakes etc would be much appreciated. Certainly don't wanna buy blind!

 

Thanks in advance chaps and chapesses

 

Andy

[shalmaneser 26]

any chance of a piccy of your brakes? I've got a big brake setup and i'm trying to figure out who its made by!

 

As far as your brake dilemma goes, i'd go for some gti 6 stoppers with standard discs and pads and see how you go. Or you could go for some XSi brakes which would be a lot cheaper to buy if you're looking for a middle ground.

[EdCherry 34 1 Cars]

Nothing wrong with a good set of the standard 247mm, its all about your pad choice really.

 

Id go back to the 247mm setup personally, cheap discs, cheap pads and easy to maintain.

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

any chance of a piccy of your brakes? I've got a big brake setup and i'm trying to figure out who its made by!

 

As far as your brake dilemma goes, i'd go for some gti 6 stoppers with standard discs and pads and see how you go. Or you could go for some XSi brakes which would be a lot cheaper to buy if you're looking for a middle ground.

 

Shouldn't be hard to tell as the GTi-6 calipers are different to the 205 ones and the discs are thicker too.

 

Haven't the ££ for GTi-6 calipers, then new discs/pads.

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

Nothing wrong with a good set of the standard 247mm, its all about your pad choice really.

 

Id go back to the 247mm setup personally, cheap discs, cheap pads and easy to maintain.

 

This is my thinking but I don't want to compromise braking capabilities when I'm driving enthusiastically. Hopefully picking up good quality pads and grooved discs will stop this.

[EdCherry 34 1 Cars]

I wouldn't bother with the grooved discs.

 

Standard Discs

Mintex 1155's/Ferodo DS2500

Rebuilt Calipers

 

Around £100 ish if you do it all yourself and will be fine!

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

I wouldn't bother with the grooved discs.

 

Standard Discs

Mintex 1155's/Ferodo DS2500

Rebuilt Calipers

 

Around £100 ish if you do it all yourself and will be fine!

 

Hmm, interesting about the rebuilt calipers?

 

Best price I can find for 2500's is £70.59 and £7.95P&P (Euro Performance)

Best price for standard discs is £23.12 and £9.99P&P (Ebay) http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/YES-4-CAR-PA...p;submit=Search

 

I could get everything from the above store, as they have standard oe Mintex discs and M1144 pads.

 

 

Choices choices...

[EdCherry 34 1 Cars]

Rebuild kit from Big Redd is about £23 with new nipples, and some of your time cleaning and painting the calipers, also need a small amount of rubber grease.

 

You can get a set of standard discs from GSF cheaper than that ebay malarky. APD do them for something like £12 each.

 

The pads id go to Miles for, id tell him what the cars used for and what you expect, im sure he'd pick you a pad that would be great for a decent price as always.

[SPGTi 2]

Get standard discs (plain) from GSF around £20 for the pair and then buy some Carbon Lorraine pads from Batfink (RC5's). Make sure your calipers are not sticky, hoses are in good condition and you are using decent brake fluid.

 

Steve

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

I must be doing something wrong then as the cheapest discs I can get from GSF (Leeds and Doncaster branches called) are nearly £35 for the pair Eh??

 

The calipers are in good condition to be fair, with Goodridge hoses and good bleed nipples too. Have some decent new fluid waiting to go in also, so just discs n pads. If I had more ££ I'd do the rebuild but I haven't and they're acting ok currently.

 

Who's Miles? Never heard of him... I presume he's knowledgeable in the field.

[mrace2000 0]

Miles runs Pug Racing; username is 'Miles' on here and 'mlshor' on ebay (the pugracing.com site in his sig is currently being revamped, to save you a mouse click on that).

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

Miles runs Pug Racing; username is 'Miles' on here and 'mlshor' on ebay (the pugracing.com site in his sig is currently being revamped, to save you a mouse click on that).

 

Thanks for that, I'll try get hold of him next week as I should see whats left at the end of the month for discs n pads, then go from there. Sounds he could be my saviour!

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

Well ladies and gents, the time has come

 

I have £80 for discs and pads. So I'm thinking of going with standard discs and some good Mintex or Black diamond pads.

 

www.europerformance.co.uk seems very good for pads and prices, and I should hopefully source some discs from a local motor factors for about £30?

 

EDIT: just found these for a very reasonable price and seem highly rated? http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/pro...?product=573961

Edited August 31, 2009 by chocolate_o_brian

[scottish_lion 0]

Interesting topic as I've been running Mintex 1144 pads with standard discs for a while now. Not particularly impressed but I think my discs are a bit warped. I was going to keep the pads as they are not that worn and buy some grooved or drilled discs.

 

Is the general consensus that this is a waste of money? Should I just buy some standard discs?

 

On the Eurotrip in the Alps they got very hot and turned to moosh.

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

Interesting topic as I've been running Mintex 1144 pads with standard discs for a while now. Not particularly impressed but I think my discs are a bit warped. I was going to keep the pads as they are not that worn and buy some grooved or drilled discs.

 

Is the general consensus that this is a waste of money? Should I just buy some standard discs?

 

On the Eurotrip in the Alps they got very hot and turned to moosh.

 

I think ideally I'd go for grooved and dimpled discs, but the concensous here seems to be a good strong biting pad with standard discs is good when you don't hhon it everywhere LOL. I rarely drive enthusiastically and may be selling the car soon anywho.

[omega 82]

theres a 205 in performance french cars thats uprated by using think it was 306 hdi discs and zarsa calipers and he rated them[think the mrs thrown the mag out as i cant find it]

so this might be a cheap option

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

theres a 205 in performance french cars thats uprated by using think it was 306 hdi discs and zarsa calipers and he rated them[think the mrs thrown the mag out as i cant find it]

so this might be a cheap option

 

Aye, if I had more time, but the brakes are proper low on the front as in not working LOL. for the sake of sourcing the HDi calipers and discs, I'll go with standard. I think the pad choice has a lot to do with it.

[scottish_lion 0]

So whichever discs I go for, is it worth uprating the fluid and/or getting some braided brake lines?

 

How much would these cost and will I notice a difference?

 

Sorry to hijack your thread but it looks like we're looking for the same things here

 

Leo

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

So whichever discs I go for, is it worth uprating the fluid and/or getting some braided brake lines?

 

How much would these cost and will I notice a difference?

 

Sorry to hijack your thread but it looks like we're looking for the same things here

 

Leo

 

No fella, by all means ask away

 

I have braided lines all round and they do help the brakes bite nice and hard. I bought a pair of discs today for about £24 and will order the Black Diamond pads tonight of the interwebnetsite. Got some new fluid too, so when I change everything over hopefully on Sat, it will still bite hard even with 247mm discs and good pads over 283mm discs and shiote Greenstuff pads

[scottish_lion 0]

Just seen these, does this seem like a good deal?

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SAXO-VTR-VTS-205-106...id=p3286.c0.m14

[Batfink 201]

drilled disks are simply a relic of yesteryear and are pointless. They act as a weak spot too. I have had a customer with issues with Brembo drilled disks cracking let alone some cheap brand.

Personally I wouldnt bother with grooves either, if the groove goes to the edge of the disk you get extra pad wear.

 

Some plain disks matched with the right pad will do the job as well as these big brake kits etc.

The only point in fitting bigger disks is if your brakes overheat under braking, you are not going to stop quicker.

 

1144's work well as a good fast road pad, but tend to overheat if used as a dedicated trackpad (unless the car is rather light).

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

I'm just waiting to fit the discs and pads now. Got some standards for £23 from a local motor spares place, and got the pads from www.europerformance.co.uk - Black Diamond Predator pp252's. These were £30 plus P&P so very good value.

 

Just waiting for some caliper bolts as mine are from the autofive kit and thus longer to cope with the spacers etc.

[scottish_lion 0]

Thanks Batfink, I'll just go for some standard discs then. I'll post once they're fitted and let everyone know how much of an improvement there is just with them being new.

 

Any advice for bedding them in?

[Batfink 201]

Thanks Batfink, I'll just go for some standard discs then. I'll post once they're fitted and let everyone know how much of an improvement there is just with them being new.

 

Any advice for bedding them in?

 

what pad are you going for. Each manufacturer usually has specific advice. Make sure you clean the disks with disk cleaner when fitting. Most important is to coat the disk with pad material by getting the brakes up to temperature without overheating them. to do this you get the car up to 40 odd mph and brake firmly without stopping the car, then letting them cool, then repeating.

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

what pad are you going for. Each manufacturer usually has specific advice. Make sure you clean the disks with disk cleaner when fitting. Most important is to coat the disk with pad material by getting the brakes up to temperature without overheating them. to do this you get the car up to 40 odd mph and brake firmly without stopping the car, then letting them cool, then repeating.

 

When me and my mate did the rears a little bit ago, we used Cillit Bang and some tissue to degrease them, then some sandpaper to roughen up the surface before applying. Did the 30-40mph and firm braking thing, backs are coolio now.

 

Will do the same for the fronts, although I only have some Autoglym engine degreaser and aluminium oxide paper... Will report back from hedge