Brake Upgrade On A 1.6 (It's Not The Usual Question)

[l337dave 0]

Ok so, my 1.6 brakes are terrible, either because there were terrible to begin with or at some point they weren't that bad but have just deteriorated. I don't know, but either way I am going to upgrade them.

 

I've got some 1.9 calipers with braided hoses, and also some 1.1 hubs. I've also got some 15" speedlines on the way.

 

I think my options are:

 

1) for about £100 I can buy some mintex pads / new disc and use the 1.9 calipers on my existing hubs.

2) for a similar amount I can buy some gti6 calipers (probably complete with pads / discs or do I need the 1.6 discs?)

3) same money again I can go the 307 hdi route and I wont get the longer pedal travel (as I understand)

 

The question is how much better will the car stop with the gti6 / hdi calipers compared to the 1.9 with mintex option, seeing as it's more work to swap the hubs?

 

I know it's difficult to quantify but will they for example be 'decent' with the 1.9's and 'awesome' with the bigger calipers, or will they both be similar...

 

I'm driving to work in it at the moment so I'm more concerned with stopping in time when people cut across lanes rather than a progressive feel or anything like that.. .

 

 

Dave.

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

For road use 1.9 brakes will be fine and some would argue 1.6 ones with decent pads and discs would suffice for what you want.

 

I upgraded from 1.9 to GTi6 and found a noticeable difference, but went from cheap pads to decent ones so wasn't a fair comparison on caliper size alone.

 

I'm sure someone will come along with a formula for piston sizes and brake efficiency based on varying factors to give you an idea of the improvement on each

[welshpug 1,655]

I'm more than happy with 1144's in 1.9 calipers, nowt wrong with the o.e pads tbh but the mintex were cheap from a forum member and I'd never used pads like these myself.

 

as dan sad though, a good 1.6 setup is very good, and you'll struggle to match the unsprung weight of them without spending a large amount on expensive 4 pots and alloy belled discs!

[damo 17 2 Cars]

put the 1.9 calipers on your 1.6 hubs using 1.6 disks still, just need the 1.9 bolts for the calipers to the hubs. thats what im doing as changing to 1.9 hubs means drive shaft change etc. I have 1.9 hubs but waiting for my gti6 lump to kill the 1.6 shafts first before i waist money on new ones

 

my 1.6 brakes work fine really as they stop me, but not great compared to other cars but noticeably worse now the heavier engine is in!

[l337dave 0]

Is there any disadvantage with the 307hdi / 206gti setup vs the 1.9's eg do they weigh a lot more?

 

Also does anyone know if the 1.1 hubs weigh any less than the 1.6 ones?

[welshpug 1,655]

1.1 hubs vs 1.6 will weigh a teeeny amount less, as the drive flange has a 10mm lower offset, but the bearing and hub carrier casting itself is identical.

 

the downsides of the 307 setups etc is massive increase in weight and much more expensive brake pads discs etc.

[Tom Fenton 1,540]

Dave, personally I would bolt on your 1900 calipers and fit them with a decent set of Mintex or Ferodo pads, then go from there.