Bought a sparkling new Fabia 1.2 TDi two months back.

A week ago was driving on the highway at about 90 Km/Hr when a dog jumped about 20 Metres from me out of nowhere.

I pushed the breaks as hard as I could but the car did not stop in time.There was lot of screeching from the tires and smoke from the brakes.

Took the Car to Skoda Service, they checked the car and said the brakes were perfectly OK.

Conclusion : The brakes are pathetic .

What are my options for upgrading the brakes, I have a Disc/Drum Setup (Stock).

How are Tarox Brakes. Here in India the dealer Petes are quoting Rs.22500 just for the front discs. Thats about 280 Pounds.

Oh! RIP Doggie.

At the speed you were going the stopping distance is going to be about 65metres, so as the dog was only 20m from you initially it didn't stand a chance.

If you got a tdi I'm guessing you got 288?

At 90 km/h the stopping-distance should be approx 20 m.

I know tho that my stock-brakes where bad for being "sport"-brakes...

sent from the real deal

At the speed you were going the stopping distance is going to be about 65metres, so as the dog was only 20m from you initially it didn't stand a chance.

At 90 km/h the stopping-distance should be approx 20 m.

I know tho that my stock-brakes where bad for being "sport"-brakes...

sent from the real deal

According to the UK Highway Code, the stopping distance quoted for a car works out about 65 metres for 90km/hr. the thinking distance will be about 16m alone. A real world car in ideal conditions may possibly come inway inder the braking distance but can'tsee the thinking distance being to different.

Going back to what the guy asked in the first place.

If you are looking for better brake pads I only know the ones I use which are TRW. I've been very impressed by their performance especially with regards to the stock ones.

If you feel like putting on bigger brakes it is a well worth the money upgrade imo (for city or track use). That was the reason I asked if you got 288 brakes on the car. If you do then easily you can fit 312 from probably an Octavia or something.

If you got 256 though like me then it is very expensive as you will need and the hub carriers which are a bitch to find.

've been looking for a set of hub carriers in good condition and and I'm still out of luck.

Going back to what the guy asked in the first place.

If you are looking for better brake pads I only know the ones I use which are TRW. I've been very impressed by their performance especially with regards to the stock ones.

If you feel like putting on bigger brakes it is a well worth the money upgrade imo (for city or track use). That was the reason I asked if you got 288 brakes on the car. If you do then easily you can fit 312 from probably an Octavia or something.

If you got 256 though like me then it is very expensive as you will need and the hub carriers which are a bitch to find.

've been looking for a set of hub carriers in good condition and and I'm still out of luck.

My reason for commenting on the stopping distances was because it seemed the OP had unrealistic expectations of the oem brakes and given the distance and speed quoted I doubt that the upgrade would have made a significant difference.

A mod is only really warranted if the person paying for it feels it appropriate, whether it increases performance, value or looks. Fair point on the options available but need to make sure that he understands what he is getting.

Thanks for the reply.

I know that expecting the car to stop under 20 Mtrs at that speed is unreasonable, but still i feel that the fabia brakes are not at par.

In India we get only Tarox as an option for brake upgrade.

If there is any better and they ship to India please give me the link.

@32KOFDATA : I think that my brakes are 256.

Edited 13 January, 201214 yr by BlackMamba

Iv read a few reviews in magazines about tarox and they seem to be really impressive espically the sport japan discs

also, don't mean to fan the fire, (and no offense intended) but modern cars make a mockery of the stopping distances in the highway code... (not updated since the 60's , modern brakes and tyres have evolved subtantially since then...)

I have seen many stopping distance tests, for example a vauhall insignia, normal saloon car, heavyer than fabia..

"his combination delivers excellent results in the straight line test. We managed to bring the Insignia to a halt from 70mph in 47 metres exactly

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/235766/vauxhall_insignia.html#ixzz1jMR4X6eK"

The highway code says 75 meters, in reality a common modern car does it in 47 meters

a huge difference (28 meters) (no thinking distance involved, just physical ability to stop..) there is lots more in those articals that I havent read, but bear in mind their longer figure includes an emercancy swearve manouver, not relevant to the highway code straight line figure..I just googled the first one. others I've seen have managed to half the highway codes stopping distances with hot hatches.

cars like the fabia vRS ect....

i've seen tests with a big heavy lexus stopping in pouring rain conditions much shorter than the highway codes dry conditions figure! and the rule is "twice as long to stop in the rain"

sorry. it just bugs me how out of date the highway code is... I've had battles with the DSA about my old fiat on driving tests, as they accused it of having an electronic handbrake when the hill holder operated on a test.. (electronic handbrakes are not allowed) They need to move with the times and the technology.

So you can't take a driving test in a VW now then

I agree with you Dave the DSA DVLA Govenment in general need to get with the times.

So you can't take a driving test in a VW now then

I agree with you Dave the DSA DVLA Govenment in general need to get with the times.

not sure about VW tech, but I know nearly all renaults now employ an electronic handbrake... there is talk of of them relaxing the rule and allowing them

***update: since I last checked they have done it! you can now use vehicals with an electronic handbrake, they have seen the light

there are still alot of vehicals still banned from tests though, for various reasons....

I got a in a bit of a panic when the fiats hill holder operated on a test, the examiner had "words" with me, he listened to all the details of when it would intervien ect ect... was sure he went back to write a report :( he said he'd never heard of such a thing before... (this was 2007) the grande punto didn't get banned though....

if its a heavier car, do the highway code take this into account. i would image more velocity (those physics-minded) please correct my terminology. if heavier i think may it required more powerful brakes

One thing ive noticed have any of you tried braking whilst the engine off the brakes are massively servo'ed

i want a bit more pedal pressure but would imagine bigger brakes would make that worse is that the case

I think what your getting at is Acceletration (deceleration is just negative acceleration) = Force/Mass

Yes that is true for the same acceleration more force is required for more mass. Its a bit more complicated as you've got brake bais, center of gravity, suspention travel, tyre etc all to take into account as well.

However I think the main point we can all agree on is that the DVLA are massivly out of touch.

Another thing to bare in mind as I've had a massive problem with it over the last week from muppets is non VXR corsas and other shed wagons, is that no matter how fast you can stop it doesn't matter a damn if the idiot behind you who shouldn't have a licence doesn't see the issue with tailgating you at 65-70 in his pice of **** wagon which will plow into your car if you use more than about 3 degrees of pedel travel.