Best Budget Brake Upgrade

[FireFly 4]

Firstly what size would the standard brakes be on a 205 1.8 XLD? I imagine quite small, 247's?

From what I see common upgrades are 266's off 306 XSI/HDi and 283 306 GTi6 brakes.

 

As far as I'm aware the 266's would therefore be the best budget upgrade as price of calipers, discs and pads are lower then the '6.

Is there anything else that needs to be considered? Master cylinder, rear brakes?

I imagine the standard drums on an XLD would be pretty poor and that the most sensible option would to fit a 309/205 GTI rear beam with discs already in situ as that would sort out brakes and suspension in one?

Some of this could be wrong, if so please correct me.

Cheers!

[PeterGriffin 20 1 Cars]

I've got the 306D brake and they seem pretty good, haven't used in track setting yet tho... wouldn't imagine they would set you back much, scrapyard or summat?

[FireFly 4]

I've got the 306D brake and they seem pretty good, haven't used in track setting yet tho... wouldn't imagine they would set you back much, scrapyard or summat?

 

There 247's I believe. Got a spare set of those on a car I'm breaking so could use those.

 

Doesn't sound big enough to me though!

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

What size wheels are you running?

 

A well sorted 1.9 gti brake setup will suffice.

I have mintex 1144's on my GRD, stops brilliantly for 1.9 brakes

[welshpug 1,655]

the drums are fine on that car, and most 205's, fit some 1.9 gti/106/306 discs and some 1.9 girling calipers or some 106/306 ATE calipers.

 

you could go 266 if you wanted, but I doubt you need it, the car is on 1.9 Wheels IIRC.

[FireFly 4]

Yes thats right, 15" speedlines.

266's are easy to get hold of so I'll go for a set of those.

Doesn't anyone use 283's? Is there reason for this?

 

Thanks.

[welshpug 1,655]

plenty use them, but they are heavy and expensive.

 

many have seen the light and stick to decent pads in standard calipers and 247mm discs.

 

 

you only have 90 bhp don't forget

Edited January 16, 2013 by welshpug

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

I dont even see the point of 266 or 283mm brakes if it's a GLD

Once up to speed I can carry some pace in the GRD and the 1.9 brakes are more than enough to lock the wheels.

To give you some idea I'm thinking of sticking the same setup on my GTI5 to replace the '6 brake setup, which is saying something.

Edited January 16, 2013 by Paul_13

[FireFly 4]

Ok nice one guys, no 283's!

 

Will I need to take the brake pipes from the donor 306?

[welshpug 1,655]

only if you go larger than 247mm.

[Baz 421]

Answering to the topic title;

 

Decent pads & fluid in some 1.9 calipers, done.

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

As the man says!

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

slight hijack: on base model hubs, would 1.9 calipers and discs be better than 1.6 calipers with 1.9 discs?

[Batfink 201]

Just because a brake upgrade is common does not mean it is correct. I use the term 'upgrade' loosely as quite frankly most people who do this are ignorant to the real benefits a larger caliper and disc size actually give and fit this on the false pretence they are going to stop 20 feet shorter than before.

Moving the caliper away from the center of the disc alters the pedal feel - the same force can be applied with less effort.
Running a larger disc increases the heat capacity of the braking system, meaning you can brake harder for longer before brake fade occurs.

 

The downsides are that you will spoil the handling of the car as you increase unsprung weight.

 

Baz has this one right.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

slight hijack: on base model hubs, would 1.9 calipers and discs be better than 1.6 calipers with 1.9 discs?

 

Yes, imo but a decent condition set of 1.6 GTI bendix calipers should be more than good enough for fast road & light track use.

 

The 1.9 GTI calipers have a much stronger body & age better, I also found when I swapped from 1.6 Bendix calipers to 1.9 GTI ones I had better pedal feel but obviously due to the different caliper design I also fitted different pads.

 

If you have a set of good condition Bendix calipers, imo its not worth spending money just to get some 1.9 ones.

 

g

[Anthony 1,002]

The key there is "decent condition" which, in my experience, 99% of Bendix (1.6) calipers are not in.

 

Classic symptoms are the tale-tale "knock" noise when you reverse, pads not wearing evenly/straight, and distinctly underwhelming braking performance.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

The key there is "decent condition" which, in my experience, 99% of Bendix (1.6) calipers are not in.

 

Agreed, this goes for all the bendix calipers but there is always a chance they have previously been looked after or replaced on a car.

 

If you have the warning signs Anthony mentions, replacement is the only choice & when this is due you might as well get some 1.9 calipers & suitable pads.

 

g

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

the situation I'm in currently is a binding tu (bendix style I believe ) due to slight corrosion on the piston. a good greasing every now and then fixes it temporarily, but its definitely something that needs doing asap. the reason I was swaying towards the 1.6 was due to the ability to use the current (almost brand new) pads. I was intending to buy a refurbished pair of calipers. although people have advised me to buy second hand and refurb myself, but I'm not sure that'll be vastly less expensive. there's pairs of 1.9 and 1.6 calipers refurbed on ebay for £90 so cost isn't an issue really

[Anthony 1,002]

Careful, as some so-called "refurbished" 1.6 calipers haven't had the problemsome sliders etc fixed, merely cleaned up and new seals, meaning they're still useless.

 

I'm personally happy fitting a set of good condition 1.9 calipers as they seem to be pretty hardy and wear miles well - the only major issue that they tend to suffer from is the sliders corroding and seizing up, but that's easily prevented by taking the slider pins out, re-greasing them, and putting it back together making sure that the boots are in good condition and sealing. Any other issues are pretty rare in my experience.

 

Typically you're looking at around £30 for a set of used 1.9 calipers (complete with yokes etc, ready to bolt on). With new/refurbished calipers, you usually only get the caliper itself and not the yoke/carrier part.

 

PS. 1.9 calipers use different bolts to 1.6 and base model, but they're only a quid each from Peugeot if you use the 306 Lucas/Girling part number.

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

the 1.6 ones on ebay seem to have the pad carrier included:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390506817079?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

not sure about the 1.9 ones, so thanks for the heads up on that!

[Anthony 1,002]

1.9 (Girling) front calipers generally don't such as in this example

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

the 1.6 ones on ebay seem to have the pad carrier included

 

They will have, its rare you'll find just the Bendix caliper body sold separately where the 1.9 Girling brakes are two piece items & the yoke won't come with a refurbished caliper.

 

The Girling 1.9 calper slider kit is still available from Peugeot afaik, service box isn't allowing you to add to basket atm but it has been replaced with a new number & not showing as NFP.

 

g

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

it seems on a cost basis then that it might be more cost effective to buy 1.6 if I go with refurbed, or 1.9 if I go second hand. is there much difference in performance or are they near enough the same?

[RossD 44]

I'm running the 247mm vented setup on my 205, with ATE calipers (As used on 106 GTi's \ 306 DTurbos etc). Whilst they dont seem to have the greatest of reputations for some reason, there is no doubting the stopping power on my car. Nice solid pedal feel, stamp on the brakes from about 90 and you stop pretty damned quickly. I've used some genuine Pug pads from a 306 that I found on eBay - I did have some el cheapo pads beofre that and they were awful, so pad choice does play a big part in a brake setup.