My brake thread - 256 vs 280 vs 4pots

[TriggerFish]

Nearly 9k? All about 10k in the Mazda!

Likewise, I've always liked the Civic Type-R (well, all hot Hondas - esp. the DC5! ) I just wanted something RWD otherwise I'd have been looking for a Type-R of some sort (shame the S2000 is a 2 seater).

[TriggerFish]

Right, another update to this:

I've got around the spacer issue - I'm now using the standard VW 280mm disks. Pleases me given mine are pretty much new, and replacements are only £30 a disk vs £50+ for the proper HiSpec ones. Even better for me as the HiSpec disks were VERY low on life, and would only be good for testing really. £100 saved.

So in short, this conversion looks to need:

• 1) One set of callipers: http://www.hispecbrake.co.uk/B4RAD.html
  2) One set of carriers (not too sure which ones) http://www.hispecbrake.co.uk/Billet%204 ... ckets.html http://www.hispecbrake.co.uk/Billet%204 ... ckets.html
  3) Some spacers - I've got 30mm ones, but reckon 25mm should do
  4) Longer wheel nuts of course
  5) Standard VW 280mm disks http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Volks ... 04f&000027
  6) Volvo 240 brake pads http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Volvo ... b1b&000036

I'm not lowered yet, and am struggling with brake line lengths so will need some new ones - I've found a place that charges around £15 a corner for them. Lowered cars maybe OK as it's literally 3-4cm too short.

[Verity]

Great write up so far. Love that you've put up some stopping distances to compare later on rather then just saying 'yeah it's better'. Looking forward to the results when it's all done.
Plus they are looking awesome!!

[6N2 GTI 00]

Nearly 9k? All about 10k in the Mazda!

Likewise, I've always liked the Civic Type-R (well, all hot Hondas - esp. the DC5! ) I just wanted something RWD otherwise I'd have been looking for a Type-R of some sort (shame the S2000 is a 2 seater).

10K mmm music to my ears lol love it!
Yeah DC5 Integra's are stunning cars and the S2000's are crazy little machines

[TriggerFish]

Just been for a very short drive - - they seem awesome!

The car has done less than a mile since fitting so the pads aren't bedded in, and I don't want to go fast/far as the brake lines are still a little suspect, but wow do they seem good. They still need bleeding and bedding in, so it's hard to tell how they're going to feel, but in terms of all out power they seem amazing. It's raining here, so it's not surprising, but the ABS is getting a work out under moderate braking force.

Will report back with more detail once they've been bleed and have bedded in a bit better, and will try and do another set of 60-0's to get an objective view of how good they are(/justify my spending!).

Things are looking good so far though.

[Endi_GTI]

Sounds good man. I have just plotted the G60 stopping distances for you. As you can see the forecasted trend line shows slight brake fade over the 10 stops. Will be interesting to see how the new ones compare. Would also be interesting to see how the standard set up compares.

[TriggerFish]

Awesome, thanks! (Must try and find another copy of Office again!) On that graph 10 is definitely an outlier as I went too soon, so you can see a bit of fade considering the distance reduces again from stop 4 onwards (maybe I messed 2+3 up somehow?!)

If I was thinking, I could have swapped back to the standard brakes before swapping them over. Sorry! Not sure there would be much difference myself as it's the same calliper using the same pads, so no extra power/surface area, just the benefits of having the extra leverage from moving the whole lot away from the centre of the wheel. They look better though and are cheap enough to do, esp. if renewing at the same time. (Y)

[TriggerFish]

My hoses arrived today - hopefully get them fitted in a bit when my dad is home to help (read: dad does, and I watch passing spanners! ).

About 15cm longer, so should do the trick.



eMac cat bed ftw!

[6N2 GTI 00]

Nice one mate hopfully you can get these fitted ASAP

[Endi_GTI]

Sweeeeeeeeet

[tt509]

[Verity]

Brilliant!! Bet your itching to get them fitted!

[joe2612]

Looking good man

[TriggerFish]

Right, finally got these fitted. Got one side done on Monday, then it rained for the rest of the week, but luckily we had a free window of dryness this morning (raining again now).

They still time to bed in as they've done less than 10 miles, but they are sooooo much more powerful. (Will do measurements when the ground is dry again.) But they feel like they should be a lot better. There's still a little bit of dead pedal travel at the top as there was before, and the brakes are still quite heavy, but the feel seems much better.

Slamming then on at 30 is near instant standstill, and really throws you forwards in the car. I have noticed the car starts pulling under braking more - it always used too but it's more pronounced now. I intend to lower it and renew all bushes soon, so hopefully that'll fix that trait!

Before I found that if you were braking from 60-70, but then needed to brake harder (car in front stops more, or a misjudgement) then there was no real feel as to what was happening and it could be quite scary. That seems gone now, if you do this then there's much more feel and the car stops pretty much instantly which is always good.

I'll update this with more thoughts/distances once they've had a while to bed in, but I think they're going to be much better.

If anyone's local they're welcome to a quick try.

Also remembered how much better the Polo is than the Golf! The Golf is the worst car I've ever owned and I really wish I'd never bought it. Love the Polo though!

Update

Just been out again to the same place as before via some back roads. Just as I got there, it started to rain. Typical! I did a couple of runs and they seemed to take longer, but I'm hoping it's cos the surface was quite greasy (was getting some understeer too which I don't normally). They are massively more powerful though - the ABS kicks in near instantly, and if you look it's leaving rubber marks on the road you second you hit the brakes from 60, in the damp. I counted about 32m 60-0, which is ~6 meters longer, but considering the conditions I think it's a good result!

[rafcoppa]

Its all sounding good. Im looking forward to the dry weather measurements!