Hi all,

I've had my Fab VRS for about 2 months now, I like it a lot except the brakes are absolutely woeful, I'm thinking of having parachutes fitted to stop it - like the Space Shuttle.

My main problems are:

1. Considerable pedal travel before anything happens, it feels like about 3 inch of travel before anything at all starts happening.

2. When something does happen it doesn't happen quick enough or sharp enough. Feels like i've got glass for dics and wood for pads.

I've lost count of the number of times I've nearly rear-ended people - and this is at normal speeds.

Will just replacing the fluid tighten up the pedal travel problem, or is there a lot of travel because the pads are knackered? It's done 30k is it about time for front pads to be replaced?

At 30k, I'd check the pads as that could explain additional pedal travel. Also bear in mind the fluid needs replacing every 2 years too so it could well be due.

If they're all ok, then I'd try doing some high speed firm stops (find somewhere quiet ) to remove any glazing that might have built up on the pads. 2 or 3 70mph stop should do the trick.

Remember that because the car is nose heavy, a significant amount of weight shifts over the front wheels under braking so it may feel like you should be stopping, when in fact it's just the front of the car dipping and you need to press the pedal harder....

Chris

Also remember that Furby's brakes aren't it's greatest asset. If you are feeling a little flush you could always replace them with some TT brakes if your's need replacing.

Thats the same as mine mate, noticed it last night, does not deter me from the car through, might when the 1 month check is due just let the garage know, cos the car was ment to get a check over.

David

Cheers for the advice. Does anyone know where I can get a 312mm upgrade? I presume this just applies to the front and the rears are left stock?

For sure the 312mm brake upgrade with stock pads is one of the best upgrades for the FabiavRS. You get about 90% of the stopping power of the Brembo setup and you can find them fairly cheaply. Also not too difficult to fit DIY. Think there's a guy called golfturbo or summat about that sells them just lifted off new TT's that have the dealer big brake upgrade done. Hammerite smooth green from Halfords and you're all set.....

They aren't the best brakes I've used, but I prefer to have to apply what I need rather than the over-servo'd on/off braking you often find. Our Octavia is horrendous. A wrongly directed fart in the general direction of the pedal has you heading for the windscreen. The best advice I could give would be to learn Roadcraft driving. I used to be last of the late brakers in my Scoob, wearing out pads in as little as 6k (EBC Red - never again) but was taught Roadcraft by a Police class 1 pursuit driver. Now I hardly ever use my brakes until the final stop and yet my average speed is significantly higher. My last set of Scooby pads were over 20k when I sold it and still only half worn. My Furby pads have done 12k on the road and 2 track days and look pretty healthy too.

I used to feel the same way about my brakes (i.e. rubbish) and had a few scares when they overheated after a couple of roundabouts (Milton Keynes = Sprint/Stop/Sprint/Stop) but over time adjusted my driving style considerably - I use far more engine braking then I did previously and start slowing earlier. So much so that I'm still on the original pads on the front after 50k.

They aren't the best brakes I've used, but I prefer to have to apply what I need rather than the over-servo'd on/off braking you often find. Our Octavia is horrendous. A wrongly directed fart in the general direction of the pedal has you heading for the windscreen. The best advice I could give would be to learn Roadcraft driving. I used to be last of the late brakers in my Scoob, wearing out pads in as little as 6k (EBC Red - never again) but was taught Roadcraft by a Police class 1 pursuit driver. Now I hardly ever use my brakes until the final stop and yet my average speed is significantly higher. My last set of Scooby pads were over 20k when I sold it and still only half worn. My Furby pads have done 12k on the road and 2 track days and look pretty healthy too.

Never heard of Roadcraft before, thanks will have a look at that. There is a link here to some info on it.

Never heard of Roadcraft before, thanks will have a look at that. There is a link here to some info on it.

Check out the Advanced Driving forum on Brisky

Chris

. My Furby pads have done 12k on the road and 2 track days and look pretty healthy too.

have you took them out to check or just looked through the wheel ?

they may not be worn but what happens when they have been heated up on a track day is the friction material breaks up and detaches from the backing plate

i have had 2 sets of standard pads do this , see this thread below

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/living-edge/74769/

Either you lot have a dodgy batch....or I do:confused: My brakes have never once given me cause for concern, but then maybe it's because I realise that it's not a Ferrari, but a fairly quick small family car.

Dont get me wrong, I do punt it now and again, but really dont get the problem, like I say.....maybe it's me:rolleyes:

I agree with the comments that over servo'd brakes are a pain - my wife's Polo 9N 1.4SE is very much like that - though maybe a lot better than it was when new, so I'm surprised that the Fabia VRS is thought to be weak or ineffective. I've just had a Zafira 1.8SRI out on hire and its brakes were very over servo'd so difficult to get used to over a hire period of 3 days 900 miles. As others have said, I reckon you need to have a look at them in case they have been underused or glazed if the car is secondhand. If its just two months old, then that is a bizare situation.

I always thought the Fabia brakes were over-servoed as I remember nearly sticking my head through the windscreen after getting used to the lovely brakes on the Scooby! I thought it was a VAG trait as the MkV Golf was the same....?

Chris

I always thought the Fabia brakes were over-servoed as I remember nearly sticking my head through the windscreen after getting used to the lovely brakes on the Scooby! I thought it was a VAG trait as the MkV Golf was the same....? Chris

When I bought my Pas it V6 4X4 in 2000 I thought the brakes were a bit keen compared with my 1991 Cav GSI 4X4 and my wife's 1996 Fiesta 1.6 SI, but when I got the Polo 9N it took quite a long time to safely control the car - got shouted at a lot by wife!

get some tt brakes:thumbup: i am waiting for delivery of some i got off ebay £205 for the carriers,calipers,disks and pads:D

It's secondhand (30k miles). I reckon they must be glazed or just worn out. I'll whip the wheels off tomorrow and have a look.

I don't drive fast an I've had a few scares at normal motorway speeds, I used to have diesel clio and that stopped on a sixpence (I know it's lighter).

I have had 2 vRS’s and the brakes on my second one are not as good as the first, so they do vary from car to car… On saying that I recently had to brake violently to avoid a Fox and the brakes feel a lot stronger and more progressive since so may have taken a layer off the pads.

have you took them out to check or just looked through the wheel ?

Yup, always inspect the day before and the day after as I change wheels for the day. I am a very smooth driver both on road and track, hence the brakes cope very well with no fade, yet I still manage to beat much more powerful and (supposedly) faster cars. I'll upgade the pads when they need it, along with the fluid and lines probably.

Dont the brakes have like a two stage effort, so they are applied gently at first so you can gently slow down like if you need to slow your speed on a motorway, and then will appy more braking power the further you press the pedal say if you need to stop.

I think its that transition that makes it hard to properly judge the braking distance, which is why i find i'm having to continouly adjusting my foot pressure.

I think its alot to do with driving style and because of the extra mass in the front it doesnt like late, heavy braking. I've found longer gentle braking better as it means the car isnt as unsettled into corners, waiting for the suspension to readjust, and feels like you can carry more speed through the bends.

I just spoke to my local stealer to get a cost for replacing all the brakes (just for comparison - 362-00 quid all in).

Anyway he said that the rear brakes are actually more 'heavy duty thant the front. The rears hav apparently got Octy VRS Pads, whilst the front pads are just stadard Fabia ones.

Is this right or is he talking cack?

Sounds like a load of cack to me. The brake bias is set up so that the majority of braking is done by the front. The fronts are not "standard" Fabia ones as the standard Fabia has 256mm brakes rather than the 288mm ones the vRS has.

Was the £362 for front and rear or just fronts?

Chris

it's 362-00 inc VAT to replace front and rear together. I think he said that the pads were standard Fabia at the front and Octy VRS at the rear??! Bizarre I thought!

pick up a of 312mm conversion for £200ish mine will be fitted tommorow so i will post some early thoughts:D

I just spoke to my local stealer to get a cost for replacing all the brakes (just for comparison - 362-00 quid all in).

Anyway he said that the rear brakes are actually more 'heavy duty thant the front. The rears hav apparently got Octy VRS Pads, whilst the front pads are just stadard Fabia ones.

Is this right or is he talking cack?

Cack? Thats putting it mildly...

Think Chris has hit the nail on the head.

Change the fluid and then change the pads. If that don't help it's probably the master.

If your upgrading the 312 setup is about the best you can get for the cash and it's a straight swap. Don't bother with the lines as they are renforced anyway.