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Need to replace my front brakes before an MOT next month. Last time I used Mintex discs and pads since they were inexpensive and they seem to have been OK. Any other brands worth considering? 1.4 Auto with no modifications.

Brembo, ATE, febi, OEM, and OEM economy

Always ECP offerings if they are close to you - to date I've always bought Pagid discs and pads and they seem okay, but maybe Alex knows something else about them - or maybe he just offered you enough brands to be going on with.

Some times ECP can be a bit strange when using some brand names, I've usually checked the official TMD Friction website to make sure that ECP's Pagid offerings for my cars are what Pagid was also saying they are meant to be (TMD Friction own the Pagid, Textar and Mintex names)

Edited to change "buy" into "but" as that is what I meant to write

Thanks. I found some Febi discs and pads at a good price and they're now on their way.

The new front pads that arrived do not have the wear indicator fitted. If I use these would it be an issue for the MOT?

You can just use the wear indicator on the old ones and join it, then tape it up at the plug so it has a completed circuit

I’m guessing that Alex is meaning, chop the lead off the removed set of pads, bare back the outer sleeve and the inner wire covering, twist them together and if possible solder them then cover the end with heat shrink sleeving, then plug back into car side cable and tidy up using suitable sticky tape.
That way you can start using the brake wear warning system again in the future if it suits you.

Edit:- another stupid spelling error/word error, wrote "sleeping" meant "sleeving"!!

I was. Your version makes much more sense than mine lol

Is the pad wear signal closed circuit until worn then goes open circuit?

Yeah

alexperkins wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:43 pm I was. Your version makes much more sense than mine lol

Well maybe, if only I used the words I meant to!

Discs and pads now ready but I'm reminded of a potential problem that occurred when I did the rear brakes. I was unable to rewind the pistons to fit new pads. Is this likely to be problematic when I come to do the fronts?

Front pistons push in, rather then rewind

I'm lucky as my S-P piston rewind tool has only got locating dowel pins on one side of the adaptor, so I just turn that adaptor over, place a suitable piece of wood over the end of the piston, then use the rewind tool to slowly ease the piston back into its calliper.

If you were trying to be a very special person(?) you might invert the piston dust seal and clean up the exposed piston face to make sure that it was still fit for use and that it would not damage or seize on its seal if the outer face was corroded. I have a feeling that we all should be refurbishing these callipers every maybe 6>8 years - for me, so far that is just a feeling/thought though!!

Well the polo is now 16 years old and on original calipers. I know from doing the rears last year that doesn't bode well. I've ordered a set of new front calipers.