103tsi brakes

[Gerrycan]

Skoda (and Volkswagen) seem unusually coy about the size of the brake rotors fitted to non-VRS models.
I would be interested to know the relative sizes fitted to my Octavia and the equivalent(ish) Golf wagon but my usual sources do not have this info.

Reason is that I have 17inch wheels fitted and the rear rotors look really small compared to most other vehicles and a Golf wagon I saw (model unknown) looked to have a lot bigger.

No complaints about braking performance as I don't use them anyway but one day I might (full load, steep hill).

While on the subject of brakes it is a good idea to find a quiet road and perform an emergency braking procedure so you are not surprised by the EBA and ABS intervention.

It comes as something of a shock when first encountered (and the tailgater behind you)

[brad]

At a guess, the rears will be either 272mm or 276mm solid rotors and I believe this is the std sizing for most of the Golfs / Octavias except for the GTI PP.

Fronts on the MK3 RS are 340mm. I was reading the other day that MK6 Golf 118tsi fronts have been 312mm (MK2 RS size) for a while so at a minimum you'll have 288mm but possibly 312mm fronts.

Given how different peoples driving styles are (eg: I went down a long hill (Mt Ousley) the other day with just 3 dabs on the brakes of our 1.8 tonne Craptiva; the Mazda 2 (1.2 tonne?) in front of us was riding the brakes all the way down. I wouldn't have a clue if the standard brakes are up to the tasks required for your usage.

Keep in mind that the brake rotor is just a big heat sink to remove heat from the pad & brake fluid. If your braking overcomes the heat dissipation ability then the pads or the fluid overheat & lose efficiency. If that's happening then maybe look at better pads with a higher heat rating & better fluid (maybe not possible as it's probably class 6 low viscosity fluid) before upgrading to a bigger system.

Also, IMO, the rears don't have to be huge to work well.

[Gerrycan]

You are right of course.
It could be the golf wagon I saw briefly had smaller wheels creating the illusion of bigger rotors thus causing my sudden surge of 'rotor envy'.

My previous Mk2 had chunky alloy 15 inch wheels so you could not see much anyway.
Strangely the rear brakes on that car had more wear than the front, probably the result of lots of engine braking with the diesel manual and very gentle brake pressure, so the rears may have engaged first (?).

The 103tsi offers very little engine braking so I am having to engage the brakes noticeably more often and more normally than before.

[GTR27]

I think that's one of the problems of a small engine in a big car. No engine braking. The wife's jazz is the same (1.3l in 1150kg car)

Otherwise obviously power is fine.

[brad]

MK2 Octavia applies the rear brakes first under light - moderate braking to reduce apparent nose dive. If you tend to try & read the traffic, don't like rushing up to read lights and coming to a dead halt, driv for economy, etc then your rears will tend to wear a bit quicker than the front. Also the front pads have about 16mm of friction material, the rears about 12mm so if you expect them to start at the same datum then you'll get the impression the rears wear quicker.

There is a possibility the rear rotor is only 253mm - that *would* look a bit puny.

This may be of help
ATE Brakes -ATE Web Catalogue

[GTR27]

In just waiting for someone to write off a rs or gti pp so I can grab their front brake callipers/discs - cost effectively not crazy prices like they get now. I see some companies offer big brake kits already, but I don't think 360+mm discs are required on family wagon lol

[Martin]

I've owned a MK1 & MK2 Mazda3
The MK1 predominantly used the front brakes - which is pretty normal
The MK2 employed this trick of using the rear brakes early for light to moderate braking - the rear wheels had more brake dust than the fronts

[brad]

In just waiting for someone to write off a rs or gti pp so I can grab their front brake callipers/discs - cost effectively not crazy prices like they get now. I see some companies offer big brake kits already, but I don't think 360+mm discs are required on family wagon lol

What have car you got / ordered?

The entry models in the MK2 had a different front hub carrier than the 118tsi / RS models. You couldn't upgrade unless you changed the hub carrier. Possibly this is the case with the MK3 as well.

I think I'd go a different direction as a 340mm single pot caliper doesn't do it for me.

If the 103tsi is using the same 288mm rotor / caliper combo as the 118tsi had then you can buy the 312mm caliper carriers for <$100 pair on ebay. Add some decent 312mm rotors ($160/pair for non-slotted) and stick with the factory caliper & pads & it's a cheap upgrade

[GTR27]

Yeah just a puny mk3 ambition+

Your suggestion sounds good.... Will look at it when brakes are torched. I ile to plan ahead so I know what's available

[Dzl_Dubba]

In just waiting for someone to write off a rs or gti pp so I can grab their front brake callipers/discs - cost effectively not crazy prices like they get now. I see some companies offer big brake kits already, but I don't think 360+mm discs are required on family wagon lol

I'll give you mine for free if you buy me a BBK