I have a 2001 110TDi Octy Elegance estate - are the front disk on this a standard size - looking on europarts it just shows 280x22 15inch disks at around

For the driving you do I suggest you get a set of discs and pads from eurocarparts. Thats what I did and I'm very happy with them.

To be honest, I'd be amazed if the discs are warped, it may be worth checking their thickness and then changing just the pads if the discs seem to be OK.

A cheaper upgrade would be to 312mm brakes. These would use the same calipers as your current setup but would require a new set of carriers from a VRS. You will also need 16" wheels or larger, which, assuming your car is an Elegance, it will have.

Pads still seem to have a reasonable thickness on them.... I guess if I switched the pads and it gets no better then I could change the disks and keep the new pads.

Not sure it would be worth me doing the 312mm upgrade.. unless I was going to spend a lot of time with a trailer on the back (pulling a cast iron rolltop bath back from Brighton certainly affect my braking ability - on a double axle trailer!)

Double axle trailer should be able to brake itself if set propperly

Your plan of pad changing seems like the way to go.

Hi

Discs can be prone to warping if the car has been stood for a while

Sarah

How much do you define as "a while"? The most it has ever stood (since I have had it) has been about a week....

You need someone with a DTI (Dial test indicator) otherwise known as a "clock", to measure the run-out on the discs for you. Anything over about 0.3 mm will give you vibration during braking. Discs warp usually due to temperature differences - a classic cause being to sit with foot on the brakes after a fast drive during which the discs are heated up. The pads then act as a conductor and cool the area under them more than the rest of the disc leading to distortion.

How hard is a 312mm upgrade to do then on the front?

A cheaper upgrade would be to 312mm brakes. These would use the same calipers as your current setup but would require a new set of carriers from a VRS. You will also need 16" wheels or larger' date=' which, assuming your car is an Elegance, it will have.[/quote']

Your elegance should have FS-III brakes so unless you change all your hubs etc a 312mm isnt possible sadly.

Disc warpage is pretty common on this brake set up. Pads wont cause brake judder and if you fit new discs you should allways fit new pads.

How hard is a 312mm upgrade to do then on the front?

On FS-III brakes quite involved.

Thanks for the quick reply

Sounds like getting upgraded discs might be a muich easier option then.

Any recommendations for brands are a better than standard but not too pricey?

Ta

I'm sure someone on here has done it with just carriers :confused:

Thanks for the quick reply

Sounds like getting upgraded discs might be a muich easier option then.

Any recommendations for brands are a better than standard but not too pricey?

Ta

GSF (German Swedish French) do quite a few different brands of brakes and pads' date=' Ferrodo, Brembo, Green Stuff etc... Check them out, they are normally very knowledgable and helpfull too

[url']http://www.gsfcarparts.com/[/url]

I'm sure someone on here has done it with just carriers :confused:

Not on a TDi I wouldnt have thought.