As Title, as the 288mm disk setup on the estate is now a bit "marginal" at times after the remapping a couple of years ago, and so I thinking of this upgrade.

 

So, what are the impressions from people who have made this change:

- Efficiency?

- Feel?

- Fade?

- Anything else?

 

Or else, would a change of pads or 288 disks to better types (currently running fairly standard items) be a better (and easier) route.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

John

Edited 22 July, 20169 yr by jeallen01

I have a PD140 Sport mapped to 185bhp and only yesterday uprated my brakes and discs from 288mm to 312mm. I've not had a chance to test her yet coz I broke my wrist a month ago so not allowed to drive. The wife has an Altea XL CR170 with standard 312mm brakes and they are powerful hence my eagerness to upgrade.

A lot, if you search on here you'll find a thread i created years ago when I fitted them.

 

The only difference is the same pad is moved further out, but it seems to give nicer modulation of the brakes and a quicker initial deceleration.

A lot, if you search on here you'll find a thread i created years ago when I fitted them.

 

The only difference is the same pad is moved further out, but it seems to give nicer modulation of the brakes and a quicker initial deceleration.

Sounds about right - the pads will be slightly further from the centre of rotation of the wheel, and so the "leverage" effect will be increased.

 

Got the new discs/pads  and caliper carriers last week and hope to fit them tomorrow if the weather holds - then I find out for myself.

Unless you change racing pads, master cylinder, brake lines and brake fluid...you won't feel much difference.

 

 

Brak power is not about larger brakes but about brake balance and tyres. Get your rear brakes working and learn to break race style...you won't need brake size upgrade unless you live in alpine area or you race rally and 24h Le Mans

Edited 3 August, 20169 yr by sniper29a

sniper29a, on 03 Aug 2016 - 22:18, said:

Unless you change racing pads, master cylinder, brake lines and brake fluid...you won't feel much difference.

 

 

Brak power is not about larger brakes but about brake balance and tyres. Get your rear brakes working and learn to break race style...you won't need brake size upgrade unless you live in alpine area or you race rally and 24h Le Mans

You are probably right - I will see tomorrow as I fitted the 312 discs today. Might change the brake flexibles, but the master cylinder is probably a bigger issue, to help (we will see).

You are probably right - I will see tomorrow as I fitted the 312 discs today. Might change the brake flexibles, but the master cylinder is probably a bigger issue, to help (we will see).

it is all about balance. master cylinder with larger piston does give you only placebo of shorter pedal travel. unless you change brake piston area in calliper, there will be very little noticeable difference.

 

you have to take out ABS fuse if you want to feel difference because ABS always screws up everything and you have rubber pedal.

Skoda Fabia RS2000 has 300-350 brake discs but 4-8 pot fix calliper. If you hit it hard car stands on front wheels for a sec

 

Subaru Impreza has got "small" brakes but standard Brembo/AP Racing 4 pot fix calliper.

anything from VAG is one pot floating pish, which doesn't brake.

 

If you want really great brakes find post about Brembo upgrade and prepare yourself for >1000EUR of fun

A lot, if you search on here you'll find a thread i created years ago when I fitted them.

 

The only difference is the same pad is moved further out, but it seems to give nicer modulation of the brakes and a quicker initial deceleration.

agree with this.

 

When I did mine I had very low expectations and was pleasantly surprised at the end result.  It's not earth shattering but it is an improvement.  

 

You still need quality pads & rotors but the 312mm setup will make better use of them.

brad1.8T, on 05 Aug 2016 - 07:17, said:

agree with this.

 

When I did mine I had very low expectations and was pleasantly surprised at the end result.  It's not earth shattering but it is an improvement.  

 

You still need quality pads & rotors but the 312mm setup will make better use of them.

Having fitted some Mintex discs and pads (matched set, with coated discs - assumedly to help with bedding in) on  Wednesday, we went for a longish run (100 miles) on Thursday (to the Countryfile Live show at Blenheim Palace). Treated the new brakes gently on the way there and then they got a lot of gentle action in the long traffic queues to get in and out, but then had a very fast run back home and the brakes were treated to some fairly hard use at times, and there is a very definite improvement - as you say not earth shattering but pretty good.

 

With respect to the others who posted about 4-pot callipers and the like, thank you for your inputs but this was just for a heavy road car with a modest power increase and that sort of outlay and effort would have been way OTT!

You are probably right - I will see tomorrow as I fitted the 312 discs today. Might change the brake flexibles, but the master cylinder is probably a bigger issue, to help (we will see).

 

The master is pushing the same pistons it was designed for.

 

Glad you feel there is an improvement.

I think for the cost, it's a high value upgrade, especially if done at the same time as new disks are required.

Edited 8 August, 20169 yr by cheezemonkhai

The master is pushing the same pistons it was designed for.

Fully understood, and that was why I was waiting to find out how much better the braking would/would not be with just the slightly bigger new discs and pads - as it turned out, I am pretty satisfied again after another long run to the Shuttleworth Collection "Edwardian" flying display yesterday.

 

So, at least for the moment, no further changes are planned.

Thanks for all inputs and comments.

I've very recently upgraded from 288 to 312mm front discs and there's definitely a noticeable more powerful initial bite over standard. I've not planted my foot to do an emergency stop just yet coz I don't want my face to come off!