2011 Fabia VRS Estate.

 

Pads are coming to the end of their life on the front, and the fluid needs replacing as its 2 years old.

 

Along with improving steering feel and handling - other thread - I'm keen to understand my options with regards to the brakes.

 

As I understand it, you can 'easily' upgrade the front disc size, but I'm unsure on the rears.

 

I'm not after some £1000 Brembo 4 Pot caliper setup, but more bite, less fade, and generally more confidence would be good. The pedal feels spongy at best, and isn't close to a lot of other cars I've had.

 

My thoughts were:

 

Braided Lines

Decent Fluid

Bigger front and rear discs - If its easy & sensible cash

New Pads

 

Ideally, I like the idea of keeping everything a 'standard' size from the VAG group. I don't want to have to order special discs or anything stupid like that.

What are my options, and what price and effort am I looking at?

You can do the normal 312mm up front and 256mm rear upgrades. Exactly the same as the MK1 Fabia. All the details are in the 312mm pictorial thread in that section.

really ? how many miles have you done? ( I am currently on 9.5 k with this vRS) but in my old one (2010) I did 50.000 miles, and my front brakes wern't even HALF worn (my garage said they start to "warn" at service when pads are 50%) so my fronts were easily going to do 100k.... (rears obviosly more not countig corrosion) bear in mind I tracked this car at castle coombe , and went to czech republick, and did 4 laps of the ring on the way back ect ect ..

 

are they REALLY worn out?!

 

I find it hard to believe......

Mk4 Golf platform car brakes are pretty much plug and play as I understand it.

Plenty of 312mm front calipers knocking around.

I'm costing out some 334mm R32 front calipers, discs and pads.

My rough maths based on OEM pads, std ventilated 334mm discs from EBC along with purchase and refurb of the calipers stands the upgrade at £600 exc fitting. You can probably halve that for a 312mm upgrade.

seriously, i cannot believe they are worn out...... I would ask for proof to see the pads and discs, and put the pics up here please, my previous (remapped) grande punto front brakes lasted 100k.... rears were HALF worn at 110k..... my last vRS to REPEAT 50k, and pads not half worn discs looked new....... rear discs, pads AS new....

 Brake fluid change on a MK2 vRS is at 3 years & then each 2 years.

 

Obviously do it when you want, change to a better performing Brake fluid,

& you will be changing fluid anyway doing the upgrade.

 

but not if its a Service desk that is wrongly  telling you to do it at 2 years.

2 year/20,000 mile is a Major Inspection service.

Brake Fluid change not due then.

 

george

seriously, i cannot believe they are worn out...... I would ask for proof to see the pads and discs, and put the pics up here please, my previous (remapped) grande punto front brakes lasted 100k.... rears were HALF worn at 110k..... my last vRS to REPEAT 50k, and pads not half worn discs looked new....... rear discs, pads AS new....

We just had to swap out the front pads on my lovely OH's 2009 1.3vvti Toyota Yaris with only 31k miles on the clock and I saw them with my own eyes before asking my mate who was servicing it to order some in for us to fit. They were down to 1.5mm really close to the wear marker.

We just had to swap out the front pads on my lovely OH's 2009 1.3vvti Toyota Yaris with only 31k miles on the clock and I saw them with my own eyes before asking my mate who was servicing it to order some in for us to fit. They were down to 1.5mm really close to the wear marker.

sure, I've owned cars where thats true my old saxo's for example... but a fabia 2 vRS? I doubt it...... each car is different, but the specific model and make should be the SAME, unless its been tracked most of its life or done 90k + I think he's being ripped off....

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

Firstly, all this is off my own back, not off some comment from the dealership.

 

Car is due to go in for Service 3 in about 1500 miles, and I'm just working out in my mind what I want to get done at the same time. I'm also considering sorting a remap, and I'm not a huge fan of the existing brakes.

 

I've always done brake fluid at 2 years, as an absolute maximum, much like I change tyres at 3mm.

 

I've done just over 26,000 miles, but as I'm sure everyone here appreciates, mileage doesn't have a 1:1 relationship with brake wear.

 

The problem I've got is my cunning plan to do a few bits is growing. What started off with sorting the tyres and pads out now feels like:

 

Power: Remap, Panel Filter

Handling: Eibach Springs, SuperPro AntiLift kit, Whiteline RARB kit, Geometry setup

Brakes: 312MM front brakes, 256mm rear, braided lines, better fluid

 

That won't all be happening at once, but I'm just trying to work out if the brakes deserve some attention. I've had a read of the 312mm thread and unless I'm being an idiot, I can't see anything that says 'Mk2 Fabia VRS needs these parts to do 312mm front, 256mm rear' 

 

Cheers for the replies

Are you happy enough to do the re-map and void the warranty on engine and gearbox before the 3 years warranty is up?

 

Panel filter might be a problem wrong type of airbox..  But some other filter & intakes will be OK.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/232929-which-one-to-buy-and-how-to-fit-it-air-filter

 

 

Worth testing Brake Fluid for moisture.

Many used to change brake fluid at 2 years, moisture in fluid boiling etc, & corrosion in pipes.

Technology improved fluids, seals etc.

But as with everything, do what suits best.

 

george

Ok, I understand , just thought someone was telling you they were worn out! Lol.... Big brake kits are easily available, I do myself go on track, and am simply upgrading the front pads for better temp control, as they have pleanty of retardation , they just overheat.... But any 312mm upgrade would be good I'm putting yellow stuff pads on the front at my 10k service to try and control fade....

Remap will be next year in June when the warranty runs out, don't worry  

If the car is coming up to 30,000 miles, if not already done, maybe check the Spark Plugs.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/291585-warning-on-spark-plugs-14-tsi-cave-vrs-check-the-spark-plugs

 I've had a read of the 312mm thread and unless I'm being an idiot, I can't see anything that says 'Mk2 Fabia VRS needs these parts to do 312mm front, 256mm rear' 

 

 

 

It may not do, I started that thread a long time ago. However the fitment is the same for MK1 and MK2 so same goes.