Choosing new brakes

Pedro_Hilario · Post by **Pedro_Hilario** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:31 pm

Hi,

Time as come to change my disc brakes and pads.

I have always kept an eye out for the Brembo Max ventilated 239 x 18mm discs. Everything i read about tells me they are very good.

I can source a pair of this discs for about 100 euros, but now i have found a ATE package with ATE discs and pads for 132 euros, all included.

And i cant find any decent disk pads for a fair price ( i can only find them above 100 â‚¬) to go with the brembo max

So, what do you reckon?

Sport Brembo Max + search for some good pads

ATE ventilated discs & pads (anyone knows how they perform? I know ATE powerdiscs are high performance...)

Opinions welcome, since i have to make up my mind until the end of this week.

Thanks,

Pedro

dragon_green · Post by **dragon_green** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:28 pm

the ATE ones you've got there are OEM (standard) replacement by the looks of the packaging. ventilated referes to the channels running radially out from the centre of the disc - but you still have plain faces where the pads meet.

so i would imagine you'll get better performance from those brembos, although you'll probably get higher rates of pad wear and braking noise.

i'd look for a good set of pads too.

warrmr · Post by **warrmr** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:01 am

the brembo max are awsome even with standard pads.

theres no extra noise under breaking.

if you stamp on teh brakes to hard now i can lock all 4 wheels in the dry.

(polo GIT rear disks on a standard 8v polo

you know you wanna)

Pedro_Hilario · Post by **Pedro_Hilario** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:44 pm

Hey,

thanks for the input.

I have decided to go with the brembo max.

Now I'm undecided on the pads. I was thinking Ferodo Premier, but a lot of people say that it makes a squeaky sound when applying the brakes.

Also might just get the ATE pads. Can't find Pagid in continental europe.

Thoughts?

JarnoVWPolo6N · Post by **JarnoVWPolo6N** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:34 pm

Pads: go for either EBC or Ferodo, don't use Pagid, those are of to hard a compound, not nice to use on the street.

Discs: I'd go for Zimmermann's, drilled, groved can't give that much gain as drilled, since the groves will wear out in time as the disc wears out, drilled will keep bein'drilled if you get what I mean. But ATE is also a good option.

Pedro_Hilario · Post by **Pedro_Hilario** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:50 pm

Hi again,

Thanks for all the input.

I've decided with Brembo Max + Ferodo Premier.

Jarno, i'm leaving the drilled discs for my next upgrade (around the time i'll be getting the GTI BBS).

I've read the DIY on doing this and i'm going to try and do it myself. Let's see how that goes!
Any tips?

Thanks

PHG

dragon_green · Post by **dragon_green** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:29 pm

Pedro_Hilario wrote: I've read the DIY on doing this and i'm going to try and do it myself. Let's see how that goes!
Any tips?

Thanks

Yes.

Get a torque wrench. If there's anything on your car that you want to be 'right', it's the brakes.

JarnoVWPolo6N · Post by **JarnoVWPolo6N** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:50 pm

dragon_green wrote:
Pedro_Hilario wrote: I've read the DIY on doing this and i'm going to try and do it myself. Let's see how that goes!
Any tips?

Thanks
Yes.

Get a torque wrench. If there's anything on your car that you want to be 'right', it's the brakes.

Same here, and put some coppergrease on the "back" of your new pads, to prevent them from "screaming" while braking

Pedro_Hilario · Post by **Pedro_Hilario** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:49 pm

Right,

Got the discs, the pads, also had all of the tools so i went to do the change.

Got the wheel out, the calipers, the old pads, went to remove the disc with that one small screw.... only to find out that its grinded. The screw's head is all grinded so i cant get it out!

After a lot of swearing, i got it all back again, without changing anything!

Went to some garages and they want to charge me 50â‚¬ for changing the discs and pads! Rip off!

So, anyone know how to deal with grinded screws? I remember reading about people having to drilling it out. Is that safe? Any more options?

Pedro

JarnoVWPolo6N · Post by **JarnoVWPolo6N** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:15 pm

Pedro_Hilario wrote: I remember reading about people having to drilling it out. Is that safe?

Is an option yes, just drill off the "head"of the screw, and since you're not using your old discs anymore, it doesn't matter to hit the discs with the drill (make sure to use an drill with the size as big as the head of the screw).

Once the head of the screw is off, take of the old discs, and get the piece of the screw which is still in place out with a plier (dunno if this is the correct word, but I mean the tool in the picture below

)

dragon_green · Post by **dragon_green** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:23 pm

yep that's the right word Jarno.

drill the head of the screw out so that you can remove the disc. Then using the pliers you can unscrew what's left of the screw from the axle - a portion equal to the depth of the disc material should be protruding.

Pedro_Hilario · Post by **Pedro_Hilario** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:58 pm

Thanks guys,

You can't believe my reaction when i got everything out, smooth, and was overthrown by one small screw!

And 50â‚¬ for this type of work...please!

I'll have a go with the drill and the pliers. Let's see how it goes.

I'll let you know,

Thanks

PHG

warrmr · Post by **warrmr** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:24 pm

i took an angle grinder to mine got it out in a shot. i couldent get the other half of the screw out so i just use the bit poking out to locate the disk and then use the wheel bolts to hold the disk in.

it makes no odds to it as long as the wheel bolts are tourqued up.

have you tryed an impact screwdriver. there well good you just put the tool on the screw and make sure you have the right size bit and give it a good hard clunk with a hammer and the bit twizzles and the screw comes out.

also dont forget to smear the hub with copper grease where the disk mounts to it i also grease the front of the disk NOT teh breaking surface. just the bit where the wheel mounts to it.
and like mentioned above greese the back of the pads where they meet the caliper.

dont forget to put the anti squeel shim back in else your brakes will sqweek like a banshee.

dunces6 · Post by **dunces6** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:20 pm

ive got them discs on my 16v with EBC green stuff pad
there good.

Pedro_Hilario · Post by **Pedro_Hilario** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:46 pm

I'm gonna use a drill and get the screw out. I don't have a impact driver available. But it's on the shopping list, as well as the compressor, for when i get my own garage (right now i always have to ask my dad to lend me his garage!)

I got everything i need, got some coppergrease (it might sound ridiculous but it took me a while to figure out how to say that in portuguese), bought some brembo brake cleaner spray, always have my WD40 in hand...

Just one question, when i saw my pads they were tight against the disk, no space between the disc and the pad, like it was almost glued. When i get the new ones in should they be as tight as that? Or do i need to leave some clearance of some type in order for the brakes to squeeze the disk?

dunces6 - Everybody told me they were good discs, so I hope i'm happy with them!