Brake Upgrades for 118TSI

**The_Hawk** · 26-12-2012, 09:38 AM

I'm looking into brake upgrade for my Cabriolet and am wondering what is recommended?

More than once I have worked the brakes a little too hard and ended up with brake fade... (and a little smoke off the pads

).

99% of the time my car is on the road so I don't *need* dedicated track level stuff, but something that is a little more resilient would be great.

Is it work doing front and back, or just fronts?
Just new pads?
And discs?
And callipers?

Is it worth looking for a kit like this:
Volkswagen Golf VI TDI > Braking > ECS Stage 3 > ES#257483 ECS Big Brake Kit - Stage III - 1K0698300

Or it it just as easy to source parts locally?

Anyone have any suggestions?

**Brendan_A** · 26-12-2012, 10:43 AM

I don't know about the cab, but my comfortline with sport pack option came with GTI front brakes.

So all I've done is buy a good quality slotted rotor and Remsa pads to suite. You could also go braided lines and a better brake fluid.

GSL Rallysport have 25% off in stock product this week too

**The_Hawk** · 26-12-2012, 01:02 PM

The Cab has sports suspension at least (I believe it basically has the sports pack).

Will have to look into exactly what I already have.

At the very least I think new pads, braided lines and new fluid are in order.

**'fatboy'** · 31-12-2012, 01:26 AM

How many k's have you done on your car? It might just be that your brakes are wearing out?

On a previous car, I found the change to a higher rated brake fluid to solve my problem of fade.

**h100vw** · 31-12-2012, 05:42 AM

If the pads are smoking I doubt there's a problem with the fluid. If you still have a hard pedal, the pads need upgrading. If the pedal goes soft you need need fluid.

Gavin

**The_Hawk** · 31-12-2012, 07:33 AM

Car has 8,000km

The pedal was getting spongey at the end of a few happy laps, but was otherwise fine the next day when everything has cooled back down.

**'fatboy'** · 31-12-2012, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by h100vw

If the pads are smoking I doubt there's a problem with the fluid. If you still have a hard pedal, the pads need upgrading. If the pedal goes soft you need need fluid.

Gavin

Sounds like it's fluid based on 'the hawk's' last post. It's also going to be the cheapest cost among the various alternatives listed. Depending on what you are planning on doing with your car, a pad upgrade to a competition compound may provide some undesirable characteristics when driving on street (e.g. squeal etc).

Sounds like taking it the track is not a regular event, so you might just be able to get away with a fluid change and see how that goes first.

I've never tracked my 118TSI so I'm not sure how my brakes will react to a couple of laps, but I do track my other car and i know the best bang for buck has been to stick with my OEM pads and just upgrade the fluid.

Best of luck with whatever you choose!