Performance Brake Recomendations

tass · Post by **tass** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:15 pm

Alright Guys,

Just checked over my N reg 1.4 8v and my brake pads, discs and shoes are all at minimum thickness. I could nip down to GFS and pick up some like4like parts but I'd prefer to do some upgrades and am after some recommended parts and manufacturers.

I'm not looking for anything showy and 'bling' (e.g carbon fibre) it's an 8v after all, but I'm a pretty demanding driver and often push the standard stuff close to its design limit (I've gotten brake fade on fast country lanes before - scary stuff when ur coming up to a hairpin!)

Anyone got ideas for stuff that will last longer, brake faster and won't cost more than the car?!

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:25 pm

Uprate your pads, black diamond an green stuff get good press on here. Get a decent blead in your system, that will help.

Aside from that, there's the 280mm upgrade, braided hoses, and grilled and grooved discs. But it's all down to how far you want to take it.

tass · Post by **tass** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:52 pm

wicked, I'm going to upgrade to greenstuff front pads. Could do with some decent brake fluid. Any recommendations for that or is brake fluid pretty standard? Also how to braided hoses improve braking and by how much?

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:59 pm

Here you are try giving this thread a read:

http://www.tigerstyle.co.uk/poloforum/v ... ight=brake

Saves me blatantly quoting from it.

I've heard many a time now that braided hoses really doesnt make that much of a difference

JarnoVWPolo6N · Post by **JarnoVWPolo6N** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:37 pm

Tim_GTi wrote:I've heard many a time now that braided hoses really doesnt make that much of a difference

On the road in normal traffic it doesn't, on a car modded for track-days, it does, since then you'll be taking the brakes to the limits, and that limit will be the original brake-hoses if you already did you discs&pads-upgrade

NOZ · Post by **NOZ** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:36 pm

With greenstuff pads i've generally heard they're really bad with brake dust.

I have Back Diamond combi (drilled and grooved) disc on my 16v with their Predator Pads. They were quite expensive at Â£179 BUT they do a superb job. I had the same pads on my car for over 15,000 miles and I still haven't had to replace them.

The only downside apart from the price is the fact they squeek and bite too hard when they're really cold. However, that is because of the type of disc so they need more heat to get upto temp and work properly.

JarnoVWPolo6N · Post by **JarnoVWPolo6N** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:55 pm

NOZ wrote:With greenstuff pads i've generally heard they're really bad with brake dust.

I'm driving my Greenstuff's for over 2 seasons now, and I can assure you that they're brilliant when it comes to brake dust. They almost leave as little as the drums leave on the rear-axle!

saves me a lot of cleaning of the front rims

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:22 pm

I need to get new pads soon, think i'll go with green stuff.

anyone know roughly how much a full set is?

Ian_R · Post by **Ian_R** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:11 pm

http://www.brakes4u.co.uk/supersearch.a ... Model=Polo

Â£40 Inc VAT buddy,

Delivery on top aof that too, would pay any more thn that like lol

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:58 pm

Ian_R wrote:http://www.brakes4u.co.uk/supersearch.a ... Model=Polo

Â£40 Inc VAT buddy,

Delivery on top aof that too, would pay any more thn that like lol

cheers mate, hey that's not too bad. Just ove Â£70 for a full set!

Torq-Al · Post by **Torq-Al** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:32 pm

Tim_GTi wrote:I've heard many a time now that braided hoses really doesnt make that much of a difference

No, braided lines don't make a difference. Although they will not degrade over time & will not split if trapped by an errant coil on a lowered car!

Rubber hoses as they wear will naturally get some 'slack' or 'give' in the hose over time, meaning you will have to press a little harder on the brake to get the same response as they would when new. Braided lines don't get this & coupled with a set of performance discs a pads will have you anchored in no time!

Hardcore · Post by **Hardcore** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 7:24 pm

i found out that the groved disks from GSF. the brembo ones. but i think they stoped selling them( well they do in my local) and they now sell the drilled ones. i dont think they stop as good, but they dont heat as much. but to be fair. how oftern do your brakes overheat??

afar from that id definetly recomend green stuff padds. and even more black diamod disks with them. which is what iv orderd to be coming. but its gona cost about Â£150

NOZ · Post by **NOZ** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:56 am

On uprated brakes there is an optimum temp they work at. However in everyday use it doesn't really matter if its grooved or drilled or whether they'll overheat. That's my opinion anyway for everyday road use.