UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

After getting really annoyed at the rubbish braking on the Polo I've decided to do something about it.

Enter a set of 4piston brakes: http://www.hispecbrake.co.uk/B4RAD.html

I'm really, really hoping they make the braking system have some feel to it, and it's just lacking any at the minute. I'll do some comparisons with stopping distances with these compared to the Cupra/G60 brakes that are on there currently and see if they suffer from fade any less. Hoping to get them fitted at the weekend, then get a RARB on, and then start saving for the summer's plans.

If anyone want's a full set of GTi front brakes/pads/disks (256mm), or a full set of Ibiza/G60 brakes (280mm) I've got both going spare!

Does anyone know of any easy rear brake upgrades, as they're gonna look pathetic next to these I'd guess!

Joe

Sounds good mate. Ill be keeping an eye out for what you think of them, with photos of course

Nice Choice Mate should be a nice little upgrade

This might be a stupid question but will these fit to standard caliper carriers 256 or 280 or have you orderd some new ones and if so what size?

Cheers guys, will need to get some new pads first looking at them (he said they would need replacing, but I didn't think they would be this bad!).

Raf - they looked like they've got custom carriers attached too them. I can have a look, see if they have any part numbers on them/get mesaurements if you want though? It all came together from someone breaking a Polo though, so not sure off hand. I *think* they're 280, or 285mm disks though.

They also need some spacers to get the disks to sit far enough away from the hub, and spacers for the wheel to clear the calliper.

Right, been out and done some measuring with the standard G60 brake setup (280mm pagid disks and pads). I know it's not scientific, but it's better than nothing. The brakes are the worst feature of the Polo IMO - the complete lack of feel they give, so I'm keen to do something about them. Hopefully get the new ones fitted today or tomorrow, then get some new pads on order (can change the pads with the calliper in place> )

I did 10 stops from 60-0 and got these results:
1 22.6
2 30.5
3 30.5
4 25.6
5 22.5
6 28
7 25.2
8 25
9 29
10 22 (think I broke a bit too soon here!)

I'd love to get a graph of these, but don't have Office installed. There wasn't much in the way of fade/reduced performance though, although I'm guessing 10 60-0's isn't enough to get it hot enough. It does give me an average stopping distance of 26 (paces/meters) though.

The range of braking distances is soon here by the shoes:



Also hit a new milestone while doing it:



Just for info, it was done with an air temp of 10c and on UniSport Rain Sport 2's. I reckon the new brakes should make a difference as the ABS doesn't kick in until about 20mph so the tyres aren't the weakest link here.

It was done on this road, braking at the 30 limit sign: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=haddenh ... 05,,0,2.64

Theres carriers on their webpage but lots of different sizes, so would be good to know which ones to get, especialy if you find out they are alot more effective. Also what size spacers and are you having to use two sets? The breaks on these cars have always been my bugbare!

Cheers

Carriers say 16v-280*24 B4 if that helps?

I'll go and get some photos next to a ruler later which might help?

Spacers - they go:

hub - 5mm spacer - disk - 30mm spacer - wheel.

Just went to put them on, and one calliper has NO braking material left at all on it and I'm missing a spacer, so will need to buy new pads/spacer before going anywhere. Stupid Easter break = delays too.

Edit - got pads now - seems they're the same as Volvo 240s £20 out of ECP for a set of Pagids.

Right, got some:

If you want/need any more lemme know.

Got them on now

Turns out the lack of spacer is hopefully going to be a non issue.

Anyway, here's some pictures. Won't have a good feel for what they're like for a while as the pads will need to bed in, and ideally I'll need new disks.

Old pads right, new left:



Old underneath:



As you can see, you actually get less braking compound on the new setup! Hoping the 3 extra pistons will compensate!

Hmmmm 4 pots



Old vs. new:



Considering both have the same size disk it's a pretty big difference in calliper!

Old vs new with the wrench for comparison:





Yes, I know the disks are on backwards! Not too worried as it's not driven in the wet and I'll swap them for new ones soon.

Went to plumb them in, and the hoses to too short. Only a few cm's, but the car they came off was lowered which would have most likely made them fit.

Also seems to need the spacers - the disks don't turn without them! Shall leave it as it is for now, but when the hoses turn up I'll take it all apart and add the spacers at the same time (I only have 1 spacer atm, hoping the chap who sold them will find the other one before next weekend!)

Nice work mate, hopefully you can get the fitting issue sorted asap and get them tested
I'm liking the test you conducted for the G60 set up, nice to see someone put a lot of time & effort into testing two set ups, i'm really looking forward to the results when your done.

I noticed you have an RX8 too? Very Nice

Looking good mate. Can't wait to see the results. Sure you will sort the space issue out fine.

6N2 GTI 00 wrote: I noticed you have an RX8 too? Very Nice

Gone now - the Polo offers more fun on the road! And at 20, the fuel bill was a bit of a killer (£350 a month to uni and back! ) The engine was something else though - truly amazing bit of work, although quite tiring without any torque at all.

Found someone who can make up custom hoses cheaply, so hopefully this time next week I'll be on the road again.

Yeah I can imagine the fuel bill was a bit of a killer in the Mazda

I do have a soft spot for the RX8's though, very nice cars and good looking too.
Engine wise they are quite similar to my Type R in terms of a high reving powerful engine but with very little torque so you do have to work them hard, although reving to nearly 9K can be fun