OK, forgive me if this has been run, but with over 100 pages of Octy1 Forum, I can't search them all and keep up this pretence of work:D

I have to replace the rear discs and pads soon. These days I am a veritable Captain Sensible, (gone are the days of Pug Gti frivolity) but I have only ever found the Octy (1.9 Tdi Estate) brakes to be OK, but never impressive. Obviously the biggest improvements will come from changes at the front, but as the rears need doing, do any members have experience of disc/pad combinations that work well and give good feel?

Not somethign ive toyed with but if looking at some sort of upgrade then standard discs with upgraded pads would be good, i would avoid EBC though and look into pagid, ferrodo etc for pads. but you will probably notice no improvement at all.

sorry to invade but while on the subject of brakes, is it me or does the octy have a program that when u park on hills they stick until u pull away or is it just my rear calipers are fudged?

not heard of it, could be sticky calipers, mine do it usually the day after ive washed the car

Yes, I was looking at an EBC package, but a guy at works comments suggested I should ask around. I suspect that a combo of standard discs and Ferodo pads would be satisfactory, but what have other Octy owners fitted?

As for handbrakes, mine seems to need to be on "one click beyond" before it will hold on even gentle gradients, (I leave it parked in 1st) and there is always a little stickiness, but not severe.

My rear brakes irritate the hell out of me!

I replaced the discs and pads last year with Zimmermann discs and Mintex Xtreme pads (from GSF), which was all fine.

But the damn things squeal like a mother every time I reverse. I have to resort to pulling on the handbrake a click or two to keep her quiet when I'm reversing off the drive early in the morning. They are totally fine while moving forward. Worse when the car is cold, better when hot, but still there. Anyone know what the problem could be? Nakkered shims maybe?

I'm thinking of buying some genuine Skoda rear pads, which come with new shims. Apparently the Skoda pads have been modified to fix the mooing issue(?).

Before the Mintex pads, I had the mooing on very old Skoda pads, but the Mintex have fixed the mooing only to replace it with squealing!!

The Zimmermann discs are great, no problems with them, but personally I'd go Skoda for the pads if I had the choice.

I'd go with Mintex M1144/Pagid Fast Road, or Ferodo DS2500 on stock discs for a TDi. Forget Bodge's comments about mooing; that's a vRS specific issue.

Also, it sounds like the back brakes are worn out or not adjusting properly; my TDi gives me full h/b (eyes and muscles bulging to get further) on 6 clicks.

Ninja, it sounds very much like your h/b's not releasing properly; try cleaning and lubricating the linkage.