Okay where to start, well a while ago now I fitted a set of S3 fronts to my vRS, I stripped them myself and had them powder coated in RAL 3020 Traffic red which look spanking, trouble was after fitting, the OE rear calipers really let the side down. I originally got a complete S3 set up but sold the rears as I needed to recover some of the cost so close to Christmas.

With the car being a daily runner is wasn't an option to get the rears refurbed so I kept my eye out for a set of vRS/GTi rears. Luckily I was able to source a complete GTi set up from a member on the mk5golfgti forum, (the fronts have now been fitted to swmbo's Golf GT). Here are a couple of shots of the calipers prior to the strip attempt -

Being a bit naive I thought I would be able to strip the rears like I did the fronts......Wrong!! After posting on the mk5 forum for advice, I borrowed a piston rewind tool and started. At this point I had exchanged a dozen of so emails with the brake God that is Dave Brown (DaveB1970) also a member on the mk5 forum. Dave is considered the forum expert when it comes to all things brake related, and he didn't disappoint. Even though he is an extremely busy man, he took the time to message me with almost a how to guide. Despite his expert advice things didn't go well, I managed to separate the piston but the handbrake lever was going to cause a major ball ache, also to avoid powder coat contaminating the piston cylinder I would require a machined plug and reassembly would require 30+ quids worth of a lithium paste on the seals.........

At this stage I thought I'd fooked it, enter stage left Mr Brown, who agreed to complete the refurb for me. I won't go in to details on cost but basically it was a sympathy job - which involved courier costs and a donation to the mk5 forum - as he was chuffed I'd had a go myself. So I sent everything off a few weeks ago - with no time scale discussed - and left him to get on with it at his own pace.

Anyway, today I came home from work to find a large parcel in the kitchen, like a kid at Christmas I opened it up to find this -

If I'm honest the pictures don't do them justice, personally I am gob smacked by the finish, Dave is a true gentlemen and a deity in the brake world, even swmbo was impressed which speaks volumes. So for anyone thinking of getting a brake refurb or investing in one of his NQS -BBK (Not quite so big brake kit) I can only say go for it, you will not be disappointed - just don't ask him to do rear calipers, they are not his favourite things!!

Next step, fitting, I will update the post when they are on which should be next week.

shiney.

What a legend. They look fantastic

Looking great, Lee!

You did the right thing giving them to DaveB - I did my S3 rear calipers myself which are essentially the same and it was a ball ache of biblical proportions - never again!

Cant see them :(

Mine need refurbing badly, both rears are flaking and fronts have seen better days. Why have Skoda used such crap paint? my golf gti was 8 year when i had it, they looked new after a quick clean

I bought one of his NQSBBK off him for my VRS and love it, great mod! and the Porsche calipers are quite pretty too!

Cant see them :(

Mine need refurbing badly, both rears are flaking and fronts have seen better days. Why have Skoda used such crap paint? my golf gti was 8 year when i had it, they looked new after a quick clean

Sorry about that, it keeps happening with my photobucket account! :(

Pictures should be back, just upgraded the account.

yes please! These look great!

yes please! These look great!

If you like them, you will love these......... :p

Oh yes please sir! Sexy right there! Millions of scene points there!

They look amazing Lee, shame they are Red

They look amazing Lee, shame they are Red

:moon:

I've just got some R32 calipers but I'm not sure whether to fit them or not, they're heavy and huge!!

TBH I don't have a problem with my standard setup, they're very sharp, good brakes.

I've just got some R32 calipers but I'm not sure whether to fit them or not, they're heavy and huge!!

TBH I don't have a problem with my standard setup, they're very sharp, good brakes.

Yes they are huge.......and for that reason you NEED them in your life, regarding weight, comparing the two I have added approximately 5kg of unpsrung weight per corner. Now I have heard of a few people noticing the difference, but tbh I haven't noticed any change, it handles the same and it certainly hasn't made any difference to the power.

As with you, I felt the OE set up was good enough (although I can't believe you are still relying on the ickle 312mm with the output your car is achieving) but after fitting the S3's I now realise how wrong I was!

I might have a fair bit of power (and soon to be more) but I never track day and the only time I do seem to give it some is when overtaking.

My ideal choice was the Boxster brakes but even with secondhand calipers, a £100 bracket conversion and hoses @ around £55 it was a lot of cash.

I'll get the calipers painted up and probably fit em just after K04.

Yes they are huge.......and for that reason you NEED them in your life, regarding weight, comparing the two I have added approximately 5kg of unpsrung weight per corner. Now I have heard of a few people noticing the difference, but tbh I haven't noticed any change, it handles the same and it certainly hasn't made any difference to the power.

As with you, I felt the OE set up was good enough (although I can't believe you are still relying on the ickle 312mm with the output your car is achieving) but after fitting the S3's I now realise how wrong I was!

I hear of alot people upgrading brakes, as with yours are they just a straight swap? Normally see people go for LCR brakes.

Edited 16 March, 201214 yr by Ema_jane

I hear of alot people upgrading brakes, as with yours are they just a straight swap? Normally see people go for LCR brakes.

Yeah straight swap but you need the brake lines, splash guards and obviously the discs and pads to go with it.

LCR, R32 and Audi 3.2 Quattro are all the same front brakes. S3 fronts have an aesthetic difference which is basically a little lug on the bottom which makes them a tad heavier, as Mr page knows

Yeah straight swap but you need the brake lines, splash guards and obviously the discs and pads to go with it.

LCR, R32 and Audi 3.2 Quattro are all the same front brakes. S3 fronts have an aesthetic difference which is basically a little lug on the bottom which makes them a tad heavier, as Mr page knows

Obviously you mean the Leon Cupra, as the LCR is a 323mm with 4 pot Brembos? :p

Aesthetically I do think the S3 and also the later A3 Quattro look better with the wing tips (but then I'm biased), bit more iCandy for you Emma -

Emma if you are interested in the upgrade whether it be for looks or quality braking, I have seen R32 and S3 fronts going for around the £350 mark, which has included, calipers, carriers, discs, pads, hoses and dust shields. I paid £500 for a complete set up off a 2010 S3 which had only covered 8k, and I sold the rears for £250 + postage so they worked out to be a bargain.

I want some :(

I always like the look of them black diamond disk's they would cool with a set of them bod boys

I want some :(

I always like the look of them black diamond disk's they would cool with a set of them bod boys

Is that northern? :moon:

LCR- http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/seat-leon-cupra-r-2010-06-18

I've got my full front setup for £200 so there are bargains to be had.

LCR- http://www.topgear.c...ra-r-2010-06-18

I've got my full front setup for £200 so there are bargains to be had.

I knew you was going to hit me with that one!

£200 is a mega bargain mate, I have seen the A3 3.2 Quattro ones go for silly money, probably because they are unpainted and people aren't aware of what brakes they are. While searching for mine, I also discovered the Volvo XC60 uses the same calipers, although they run a 330mm disc.

I also discovered the Volvo XC60 uses the same calipers, although they run a 330mm disc.

I didn't know that but then they don't seem to pop up too often by the look of it. I've read the S4 B7 shares the same setup as the R32 etc and I also looked into the 2.0t A4 Quattro which runs the same caliper but different carriers and also a 320mm disc.

I didn't know that but then they don't seem to pop up too often by the look of it. I've read the S4 B7 shares the same setup as the R32 etc and I also looked into the 2.0t A4 Quattro which runs the same caliper but different carriers and also a 320mm disc.

That seems daft, all that extra weight for an 8mm larger disc.....

Ordered some new pads from Eurocarparts today, taking advantage of the 25% discount, so the new calipers should be on sometime next week, hopefully in time for our trip up to the Hatch on April 1st!!