Big Brake Kits

[pomme]

So with a month to go for delivery on my car i'm wasting time by looking up stuff I don't really need. But coming across some big brake kits (vwr for instance) I am wondering if they would be worth the money.

I would assume upgrading from something like a Golf GTI or lesser spec would be an fairly good upgrade, but from an Golf R or Scirocco R would the gains be that great? Are they that much of an improvement over the OEM ones? I'm of course basing this of no knowledge whatsoever and really just on the rotor sizes. The scirocco comes with 19's so I'm sure even bigger brakes would fit over the VWR kit... but what would the options be then? Do you have to find parts and mix and match to suit or do bigger kits exist?

[noone]

For street or track driving?

You could start with pads, stock pads can be quite soft (for noise and comfort)

[pomme]

Well I'd guessing the OEM brakes are more than enough for any street driving. But it was more just a enquiry... just what kind of improvements over stock. Maybe its just worth getting pads if the R families brakes are good enough to start with and any upgrades are more geared towards cars starting further behind to being with.

[Martin]

The GTI has 312mm rotors, the R has 345mm rotors, so they are upgraded
(Rotor diameter is not the absolute determining factor in braking performance, caliper grip is a big factor)
For street usage I would expect the brakes on the R to be very capable

Just throwing a set of D2500 or RS4-2 pads at it will give you more braking performance and protection from brake fade
(Could even try a set of Bendix Ultimate or SRT pads)
Pad availability is the issue here...

If you go Stage II or III and are doing track days you may want to purchase a BBK - it's still an elective decision

I've installed a BBK on my Skoda Octavia and am very pleased with the improved brake authority and reduced braking distance
Spending over $2K for 20%~30% improvement in braking is not everybodies cup of tee
My BBK thread here: Big Brake Kit for the Octavia? (Fits GTI MK5/6 and others)

[walbjj]

bbk look **** hot, but in all honesty, for most people, upgrading pads, rotors, installing braided lines and getting better brake fluid will mroe than suffice, even if u plan to track the car.

[gavs]

pomme, for a price circa $2k for a big brake kit you would be far better off investing in good quality pads, light weight rotors and good quality, high temp brake fluid and finally, a VCDS cable to adjust the brake assist. After that, a good set of grippy boots and you will out-stop most big brake owners and still have change in your pocket

[nat225]

i baked my stock gti caliper in single track day at marullan nsw (having sticky advan ad08 did kill stock brakes although non semis!) the red paint turned black.

then i went with a stoptech ST-40 bbk 330mm kit and haven't yet felt a brake fade in the last 10+ track outings (cos i am still slow and run normal street tyres)

for street use at the legal speed limits, doubt a person should need one for function wise, but obviously it helps the 'look' of the car nicer especially if u go with bigger rims with thin spokes design.

[rshuwy]

there is a few kits for sale on ecs tuning that looked interesting

[MountainBikeMike]

pomme, for a price circa $2k for a big brake kit you would be far better off investing in good quality pads, light weight rotors and good quality, high temp brake fluid and finally, a VCDS cable to adjust the brake assist. After that, a good set of grippy boots and you will out-stop most big brake owners and still have change in your pocket

Hoping to revive this thread a little. Looking at doing front stoppers for my Octy..

Could you please go in to a little more detail on this option? Like what would each component likely cost, and what would be easy to install myself (lots of experience on hydro pushy brakes... dunno if that'll help).

I also saw on a website the GTJunior front brembo kit, at 995euros... wonder what that gonna cost here.. I am keen to upgrade to a brand other than the luxurious brembos, but want to make sure it will be better than the above option. My VRS definately feels like it could stop a lot quicker, and with less of a push of the foot. Especially after sitting in for a stop test in my mates skyline with the massive brembos, and he was just 'toying with it'!!!!

Really I dont take the car to the track, but I want the look, and more importantly want to reduce stopping distance for emergency. I do get a bit of fade already on 5-10 mins mountain descents.

[gavs]

For a start, €995 is roughly $1250aud, plus shipping, import duty and gst etc, and then once you have the kit you have to install it and then get it engineered otherwise you're driving in unroadworthy and potentially (I'm not installed 100% correctly) dangerous 2 ton missile. Does said kit come with everything including new brake lines, pads, rotors, mounting hardware, fluid etc? Or is it just the calipers and carriers?

Ok, so what you're going to be looking at roughly is the following:

Good pads, not mediocre or ok, I mean really good pads like A1RM or EBC Redstuff etc: $250-300 for all 4 corners.

Top spec fluids like TRW GP600 or Martini etc: $60

6 pack of beers for old mate who lends you their VCDS cable to change the EBD setting from normal to strong so the brake bite harder, faster: $20

That alone will fix any fade issues and/or concerns you have about braking performance.

So, that's what, $380 at worst case? Then you have another $1000 to spend on some nice sticky boots to make the most of your increased stopping efficiency.

Now, if you're after looks with a big pizza tray filling up the wheels then disregard everything I just wrote because if you're wanting bigger brakes just for looks then you're more than likely going to adversely affect your stopping performance.

Bigger brakes don't automatically translate into shorter stopping distances in fact, on this site especially I have never seen anyone post actual logged data in regards to before vs after big brake installation. I don't mean just a before and after, I mean a proper test using the same pads or pad compound, same disc compound, same fluid and same tyres. I reduced my 100-0kph distance by 1.5m from memory after logging it on a Motec unit with GPS but I can't post the graphs because someone blew the unit up before I ever saved the excel data off it's laptop. I changed from the factory setup to Remsa pads all round and TRW fluid and adjusted the brake distribution setting with VCDS. Same road, same day, same tyres. I I had done it properly I would have done it in stages but I didn't think of that until afterwards.