I have a 1.2 Fabia estate with FSIII marked on the brakes.

 

Looking on ECP it is hard to tell which brake disc and pad manufacturer I should be using and which size.

 

Is anyone experienced able to shed any light please?

 

Also what are my options in terms of uprating OEM if I want to? Ie, can I fit larger discs and/or pads on the original calipers?

 

Thanks

You need to check the PR codes on the sticker in the boot (or service book). Compare these to the ECP website.

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

256mm discs, with FSIII. Tape measure will confirm.

If you're going fast enough with a 1.2 for the 256mm brakes to not be coping, I'd say the system needs a good looking over. Any record of fluid change in the service history?

From Haynes manual...

 

Thanks guys, also yes I do plan to do a fluid change, believe dot 4 is recommended, but does anyone know what size bottle is needed for a complete flush/bleed? 500ml/1lt/5lt? Obviously I want to have plenty to do a full and complete change in one go, but not too much left over. Haynes and the owners manual doesn't seem to specify an amount.

 

Cheers

Thanks guys, also yes I do plan to do a fluid change, believe dot 4 is recommended, but does anyone know what size bottle is needed for a complete flush/bleed? 500ml/1lt/5lt? Obviously I want to have plenty to do a full and complete change in one go, but not too much left over. Haynes and the owners manual doesn't seem to specify an amount.

 

Cheers

 

http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/fabia-mk1/chassis/technical_data/brakes/brake_fluid/

 

Obviously if you're flushing it out you'll need extra.

I'd go for 1L, but do it on a day and at a time and with alternative transport so it's possible to buy more if you need it. If your data sticker does have a PR number for the front brakes, it's fairly easy to look up the part numbers of the genuine discs/pads on www.partscats.info

Once you have the genuine numbers, any motor factors ought to be able to find pattern equivalents that will fit. Even ECP.

Pagid brakes are a good brand. They are used as original equipment by some car makers.

Thanks, also when bleeding should I start with clutch then furthest wheel from the master cylinder? Or furthest wheel from master cylinder then clutch last? Also I'm assuming it's just the 5 nipples that need to be bled for a full fluid change?

 

Cheers

Thanks, also when bleeding should I start with clutch then furthest wheel from the master cylinder? Or furthest wheel from master cylinder then clutch last? Also I'm assuming it's just the 5 nipples that need to be bled for a full fluid change?

 

Cheers

 

 Clutch, rear left, rear right, ,front left, front right.

See above ^ for order I think Haynes says NSR then OSR, then NSF then OSF. Dunno about order for clutch slave, but I think that is the only other bleed nipple that needs doing.

Watch out for nipples shearing off the rear wheel cylinders... I had one go on the missus's car a while back. Must get round to replacing that cylinder sometime.

Consider buying a spare just in case.

Edit: Haynes can't be relied on for disc sizes; our AZQ with power steering ought to have 256mm discs according to them. Skoda fitted 239s and FSII calipers. Unfortunately the data sticker for her car doesn't have a PR code for the front brakes, so I had to confirm the PR code with a helpful dealership, to make sure it hadn't been downgraded by a previous owner.

If you have 256mm discs then fit top quality discs and pads, I use Brembo Max with Ferodo, your brakes will cost more to replace but will last longer and work much better, when you have the right balance a pair of discs will last two sets of pads, that's it.

My engine code is AZQ, same as Wino's, so according to Haynes it should have 256mm, but going by Wino's experience this may not be the case? What is the best way to confirm disc size for sure before ordering replacement discs? Can I just measure the disc end to end?

 

Also regarding the calipers can I do anything to service them? Is it a good idea to remove the rubber boots and regrease them? If so what grease should I use please?

 

Cheers

Measure the diameter with a tape measure, it should be obvious that they're 256mm. Leave the caliper seals alone, just press the piston back into the caliper nice and slowly.

 

The best service for your brakes is to fit top quality parts and change the fluid completely.

Thanks, what if the calipers have seized though? Can I take the boots off and decrease them then? They might be fine, but I don't want to get caught out mid job.

Also when you say measure the diameter are you talking one side to the other? Or around the circumference of the disc?

Thanks

Thanks, what if the calipers have seized though? Can I take the boots off and decrease them then? They might be fine, but I don't want to get caught out mid job.

Also when you say measure the diameter are you talking one side to the other? Or around the circumference of the disc?

Thanks

 

You skipped A LOT of school didn't you, yes, the diameter means side-to-side because the circumference is, errrr, the circumference.

 

If the calipers were seized your brakes wouldn't work at all and you'd need new calipers.

I think the caliper type dictates the disc size. FSII=239mm, FSIII = 256mm. I'll explain when my pasta is all eaten.

Forgive sepulcr-abrasive, he can't help it.

OK, start with this page. You don't say what year your car is, but with an AZQ it must be somewhere near the 2005 I've picked. Scroll down the "Fig No." column til you see 61516, with FSIII listed in the "Note" column. If you click on that line, then click "See details", you'll see that the only disc size shown is 256mm (item 11).

The Lucas caliper listed in Fig 61525 seems to be associated with 288mm discs, the "floating caliper brake in 61526 is similarly for 288mm only; so those aren't relevant.

The Fig 61515 "239 x 18mm" type doesn't list the caliper name, but I know from hers that it is FSII.

My Polo has FSIII calipers and 256mm.

 

It's not super-easy to measure the disc with a tape measure because of the sticky-outy-bit in the middle, but you could cut some very long, shallow u-shape bits of cardboard, with 239 and 256mm between the parallel sides and offer those up, to be sure.  You could also measure the thickness of the discs, 239s start out at 18mm, 256 at 22, that should be easily differentiated with a ruler.

Forgive sepulcr-abrasive, he can't help it.

 

Don't worry about forgiving me, I'm thick-skinned.

 

I help LOTS of people but I will exact my toll for laziness of thought or speech in the forlorn hope that the brief flush of colour brought to the cheeks serve as a reminder to think before posting.

Only the immature are actually offended and I tend not to goad them because they might kick a dog or go and hurt someone or even themselves.

 

Think of it as a fast-track modern apprenticeship without the sexism, homophobia or racism.

Awesome thanks Wino, appreciate your patience and clear explanations

Yes 54 reg/2005 so spot on, you know your stuff.

So I can be fairly certain it's 256mm, will try to measure as well just to double check.

And do you agree that I shouldn't remove the boots and grease the caliper pistons, a mechanic mate once told me you could do this to save replacing them, but I guess things could have moved on...

Cheers

To be honest, I've not had to do anything yet with the calipers on my Polo - it's quite new to me, but I'd imagine the slider arrangement should be checked for 'freeness' as you're removing discs, and if stiff, a bit of silicone grease or red rubber grease may help to allow better in/out sliding of the caliper on its slide/guide pins (items 2, 3 on this page. )

 

On the FSII calipers, it's  fairly common for these to get distinctly 'sticky', but I think the FSIII arrangement may be better by design.

Must be some youtube videos? TMB may be along soon to be his usual helpful self, I think his car may have 256/FSIII, not sure?

 

The pistons should probably be left alone, other than to clear debris away from the dust seal, no need for any grease anywhere near them.

TMB may be along soon to be his usual helpful self, I think his car may have 256/FSIII, not sure?

 

 

 

Yes mine has those They just have two pins that run in nylon bushes so sticking isn't usually a problem. I know the pistons can sometimes seize, but as Mr Meldrew sepulchrave said, you'd know about it and you'd need to replace the caliper.

 

Thanks, I'm about to place my order and I'm getting confused on ECP about getting the right discs and pads, I think I've settled on pagid or Bosch, but the pads mention "brake system" and seem to be lucas, teves or VW II, how do I know which mine is?

Also I take it I don't have/need the wear sensor?

Thanks

Edited 7 June, 201511 yr by SkodaFabiaOwner

You want (ECP) part number 101440568, no wear indicator.

From this page you can tell that your PR code is 1LQ (cos that's the only one listed against FSIII caliper). That matches one of the PR numbers listed for that Pagid pad type. It also says for 256mm discs.

Don't think any Fabias got wear indicators.

Thanks Wino, one final question if I may? If I wanted to go down the route of upgrading the brakes is it a case of new calipers, new larger discs and new larger pads? Or is there more involved?

Cheers