Brake upgrade

[Rallyace 3]

What’s the best upgrade to the front brakes, whilst still being able to use standard 14” wheels? Is there a a larger disc and caliper that will fit, or would the benefits not be enough and therefore be better off keeping the standard setup? I use my car on targa rallies, so the demands on the brakes aren’t excessive, but if there’s an improvement to be had - why not go for it. 

[SRDT 184]

Not all 14" wheels are equal, some 1.6 can't even fit with 1.9 calipers unless you do a bit of grinding or use wheel spacers.

I think it was on the 206 that you could find 266mm discs and calipers that fit on small wheels.

[petert 591]

Correct. 14” Speedline have more clearance than SMR. You can fit 266mm under. 

[welshpug 1,662]

4 hours ago, petert said:

Correct. 14” Speedline have more clearance than SMR. You can fit 266mm under. 

but not on the 1.6 hubs without a custom disc.

[Rallyace 3]

Thank you. I’m on 1.9 hubs and discs with 1.6 calipers. The callipers are in good condition. 
Which caliper would I need with the 266mm disc?

[welshpug 1,662]

There's 4 or 5 different calipers and 2 or 3 different discs, lucas/girling or bosch.    Find your calipers and get the appropriate discs

[SRDT 184]

While choosing calipers remember to check if you can find racing pads for them, with the more mundane ones you can be stuck with OEM pads.

[Gohn 68]

hmm,  I don't race but surely its still worth getting better quality brake pads and rear drum shoes ?

 

mine are the 1.9Gti Girling caliper with Peugeot (#4246A7) 247mm vented disks on the front and bendix drums on the rear

 

front pads #425070, rear drum shoes #424173 (30mm wide not 40mm)

 

are EBC any good ?  part numbers ?

 

also, is it possible to upgrade my rear drums from the bendix 30mm wide to the girling 40mm wide ?

 

thanks

Edited November 27, 2024 by Gohn

[SRDT 184]

You can find both Bendix and Girling 40mm drums on the 309 but you need to figure what wheel cylinders to use with your setup (diameter, internal/external compensator).

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

23 hours ago, Gohn said:

hmm,  I don't race but surely its still worth getting better quality brake pads and rear drum shoes ?

 

mine are the 1.9Gti Girling caliper with Peugeot (#4246A7) 247mm vented disks on the front and bendix drums on the rear

 

front pads #425070, rear drum shoes #424173 (30mm wide not 40mm)

 

are EBC any good ?  part numbers ?

 

also, is it possible to upgrade my rear drums from the bendix 30mm wide to the girling 40mm wide ?

 

thanks

Performance brake pads are often 4 times the price of standard, and typically last half the time. Unless you have overheated your brakes to the point they no longer worked, you won't really see the benefit, but will have expensive pads that wear out quickly. 

[petert 591]

Here are my Lucas 266mm calipers under 14" Speedlines, with EBC Greens. I recalled that I had to use a 3mm wheel spacer when the pads were new.

 

I wouldn't both messing with the drums. They do bugger all anyway.

[Gohn 68]

thanks gents, 

 

don't mind staying with the original rear drum setup, quite like it actually

but its a bit of a bummer to hear there's no point in getting front disk performance pads for all of these low speed suburban roundabouts !

 

oh well, sent EBC an enquiry so if there's no reply there's no alterations necessary

 

 

 

[Rallyace 3]

Hi Peter,

What are the callipers in your set up originally used on? I think that may be the direction that I’ll take.