As per the question really, anyone know of any upgraded front brakes for PD140's at all?

It's on 17" Pegasus alloys, I enjoyed a spirited drive back from Nottingham via Buxton and the cat and fiddle yesterday and had a couple of moments were the brakes had started to fade quite badly.

Anybody done any mods in this area yet?

cheers

Fluff'

Don't know what there might be, but I've found Ferrado DS pads to be a very effective upgrade on four previous cars. They ought to be available for the Octy/Golf etc.

Don't know what there might be, but I've found Ferrado DS pads to be a very effective upgrade on four previous cars. They ought to be available for the Octy/Golf etc.

Cheers Guy, I may have to pop to tweeks and have a look at them

Yep, DS pads are the way to go.

With the 312mm caliper carriers from VAG Parts (about £110 the pair) you can put 312mm disks on with your existing calipers.

It's not the pads, it's not the disks, it's the fluid.

Short:

brake fade = brake fluid is ruined => fluid boiled on prolonged heavy braking.

bad braking = not enough braking power => get bigger callipers and better pads.

The disks are generally the last component to be replaced.

Change to Castrol Super Response brake fluid, it's probably the best road car brake fluid. Better yet, put Castrol SRF (the stuff they use in WRC cars), but I think you'll faint at the price tag.

Whatever you do, this is a street car, don't put on racing pads. Those need to be warmed up significantly before they get more effective than a regular pad. And can you see yourself braking hard every mile or so just to keep your pads warm?

Useful reading: MINI Cooper Performance by PROMINI: Brake Fade Explained: Why and What To Do

It's not the pads, it's not the disks, it's the fluid.

Short:

brake fade = brake fluid is ruined => fluid boiled on prolonged heavy braking.

bad braking = not enough braking power => get bigger callipers and better pads.

The disks are generally the last component to be replaced.

Change to Castrol Super Response brake fluid, it's probably the best road car brake fluid. Better yet, put Castrol SRF (the stuff they use in WRC cars), but I think you'll faint at the price tag.

Whatever you do, this is a street car, don't put on racing pads. Those need to be warmed up significantly before they get more effective than a regular pad. And can you see yourself braking hard every mile or so just to keep your pads warm?

Useful reading: MINI Cooper Performance by PROMINI: Brake Fade Explained: Why and What To Do

Boiling brake fluid? I wouldn't have thought that Fluff's brakes would have got hot enough to boil the brake fluid, unless the fluid is old with high water content but Fluff's car is only a few months old to rule that out.

Agreed; racing pads need warming up but Ferrado DS ones are designed as 'fast road' and warm up pretty quickly, they are also stronger when hot at the point when OEM pads will fade when they get too hot (after extended use).

Getting back to the original post question on uprated disks; how about switching to a vRS setup (312mm discs)

That's not entirely relevant. You can boil brake fluid in one hour or less on public roads, as you can also burn a clutch, for that matter. You being in a moist climate also contributes to this, as does the automatic gearbox that allows less engine braking and more brake usage.

The other part of the problem is that the factory will use the cheapest part that gets the job done. Cars are designed by accountants these days, at least that's my opinion. For example, the turbo in your car is made 2 hours away from my place, and about 1500 miles from the factory.

Back to topic, braking fluid has a much lower wet boiling point, and to make things worse, once boiled, the fluid changes it's structure and lowers it's boiling point significantly and also retains microscopic gas bubbles that make things even worse.

Read myths #3&4 over here: StopTech : Balanced Brake Upgrades

Agreed, better performance brake pads are very useful, they increase safety and give better performance all around. But brake pad fading is a thing of the past, reserved mostly to truck drum brakes these days.

They do have a role in preventing brake fade by slowing down the vehicle more effectively, before things get hot enough for the fluid to boil, but they won't cure it once there.

Either way, bleeding a bit of fluid from the front brakes will make things clear. If it's not clear, it's boiled.

My MK II seems to get through the brake fluid quite quickly, but I also agree they are not up to the job:

Group buy on these, since I've now proven they fit under the 16" vega wheels?

At vagparts I've found the following parts:

Part No: 1K0312PAIR

Part No: 1K061512EPAIR in red

If people are up for it I'll organise a group buy for them.

I found on a stock fabia vrs the fluid was the weekest link. Was only when I changed to 5.1 and Ferodo DS2000 pads that I managed to overheat the pads. Then I changed to DS2500's its back to the fluid boiling again.

Got some castrol SRF read yto be used.

Oh , I have 5.1 in there and while it cured some issues, the brakes are still lacking.

Out of interest I've been talking to VAG parts and they do have a set of carriers that fit the Octy II.

They have agreed in principle that if we get a reasonable number of people (10+) then they would do a group buy discount.

They could offer Carriers, 312mm discs, Pads and if you wanted them TUV approved braided brake hoses.

If Tony doesn't mind I'll stick a feeler here for now and then when I know there is a bit of interest I'll get some firm prices.

1) Cheezemonkhai

2)

What is the price without the groupbuy discount?

Going back to the original question of the post, but diverting away to pads (not discs, they're cheaper) I've had a look for uprated pads for the Octy II and can only find the following;

EBC GreenStuff for 2.0TD (140) 2004 onward (would suit Fluffmeister's car?), or

EBC YellowStuff for VW Golf 2.0 turbo GTI; presumable these will fit Octy vRS both TFSI and TDI.

No-one else Ferrodo, Mitex, Tarox etc seems to do pads for the Octy or VW Golf V.

Ferodo / DS Performance Pads (Front) 'Street' / Volkswagen Golf Mk5 05> / Euro Performance Car Parts

link for Ferodo pads.

as for the earlier tosh about changing the fluid first.. thats great if fade is the issue. its sweet FA use if the brakes dont inspire confidence... which on an octy with non 312mm i can well believe.

EBC redstuff pads

:: EBC Brakes Direct Limited ::

I agree the set up on the front of the Octy II just doesn't inspire confidence.

The 312 set up prices are silly from main dealers, but you are talking about £250+VAT for the parts less any discount we can get from the retailer I was mentioning.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/group-buys-promotions/feeler-pd140-312mm-brake-upgrade/102434/#post1182457

I put TRW street pads in mine. Squeaks like hell for 100-200 miles then they'll stop like crazy for the rest of their life.