Brake upgrade options

[Martin]

Ok

Single piston calipers do apply even pressure to both pads, provided they are floating well.
Multiple pot calipers apply pressure over a wider area of the brake pad

Have the rotors machined and use some pads with more bite - like Ferodo DS2500 - that makes a noticeable improvement

Not many small cars have Brembo calipers
The Nissan 350Z has small two pot Bremobo's at the rear (running on a 332mm rotor) - but they tend to cost $600 from a wrecker

Most adapter plates are for calipers with radial mounting bolts (not OEM Brembo's with side mounting bolts)

You can get Seat Ibiza Cupra Brembos for 600 GBP and the adapters for 129 GBP - that's $1350 AUD but postage will be another $250 easy

You can also use front Porche 996/Boxter calipers, they cost about $800 AUD and the adapters cost $220 AUD
You need to obtain Seat Ibiza Cupra rotors, 305mm * 28mm to make this work
(there are probably after market rotor options available)

Pretty much any way you go BBK's are pricey so you need to be determined/committed

BBK's are awesome however
I have a HPA BBK on my Skoda Octavia and a Stoptech BBK for racing usage on my Nissan 350Z
Both are 6 pot with 14" inch two piece rotors - awesome stopping power (with a nasty price tag)

[Schalke04]

Ok

Single piston calipers do apply even pressure to both pads, provided they are floating well.
Multiple pot calipers apply pressure over a wider area of the brake pad

Have the rotors machined and use some pads with more bite - like Ferodo DS2500 - that makes a noticeable improvement

Not many small cars have Brembo calipers
The Nissan 350Z has small two pot Bremobo's at the rear (running on a 332mm rotor) - but they tend to cost $600 from a wrecker

Most adapter plates are for calipers with radial mounting bolts (not OEM Brembo's with side mounting bolts)

You can get Seat Ibiza Cupra Brembos for 600 GBP and the adapters for 129 GBP - that's $1350 AUD but postage will be another $250 easy

You can also use front Porche 996/Boxter calipers, they cost about $800 AUD and the adapters cost $220 AUD
You need to obtain Seat Ibiza Cupra rotors, 305mm * 28mm to make this work
(there are probably after market rotor options available)

Pretty much any way you go BBK's are pricey so you need to be determined/committed

BBK's are awesome however
I have a HPA BBK on my Skoda Octavia and a Stoptech BBK for racing usage on my Nissan 350Z
Both are 6 pot with 14" inch two piece rotors - awesome stopping power (with a nasty price tag)

Those hpa's look amazing! I was thinking of going seat Leon cupra r 310mm discs with the brembos, but there are none in aus so I'd have to get them shipped. Then whenever I need discs and pads if need to order online. I'm going to keep searching formums to find out if here are any other brakes other than 944 that are easy to bolt on.

[Schalke04]

Anyone have any other suggestions? Hear boxster rear brakes fit?

[Peter Jones]

Boxter rears might be a bit small.

You'll have to do the math and look at piston sizes.

It's possible that the MK2 stock pads have bigger cross sectional area and would apply more pressure.

Take a look on clubgti or ed38 for info on these sorts of conversions.

Remember though that brake conversions are based on what's readily available in your country.

Price and availability of second hand Porsche bits is much better in the UK/USA. Here you might be better of developing based on Subaru bits?

[Schalke04]

Boxter rears might be a bit small.

You'll have to do the math and look at piston sizes.

It's possible that the MK2 stock pads have bigger cross sectional area and would apply more pressure.

Take a look on clubgti or ed38 for info on these sorts of conversions.

Remember though that brake conversions are based on what's readily available in your country.

Price and availability of second hand Porsche bits is much better in the UK/USA. Here you might be better of developing based on Subaru bits?

The boxster rears are 4 pot, that's all I've looked up. That's the exact reason I started this thread, I was hoping mk2 or 3 people had done upgrades and new what was the best brakes to get in aus. I'll keep doing my research and hopefully find a good brake that's easy to get here.

[Martin]

It's the front calipers from the 996/Boxter that you need - as previously detailed

You can also use front Porche 996/Boxter calipers, they cost about $800 AUD and the adapters cost $220 AUD
You need to obtain Seat Ibiza Cupra rotors, 305mm * 28mm to make this work

Here are the calipers (location = Perth)
Porsche 996 911 Boxster 986 Front Brembo Brake Calipers Pads 993 1997 TO 2004 | eBay

Here are the adapters (location UK)
VW Golf GTI MK1 BIG Brake Upgrade Porsche 996 Brembo Caliper Adapters BROO8 | eBay

Here are a set of rotors (location UK) - these 305mm rotors are a bit hard to find
FRONT GROOVED BRAKE DISCS BREMBO PADS SEAT IBIZA 1.8 TURBO CUPRA R 4 STUD 305MM | eBay

Here is a UK company supplying a full kit for close to $2K AUD
ThrottleBodies.com - Performance Induction Systems

Badger5 Ltd can now offer on a limited supply basis a Superbly Priced, amazing Brembo 4-Pot caliper disk and brake upgrade to owners of Seat Ibiza Cupras and Golf 2 derivatives. This upgrade kit comprises a Pair of 305x28 disks, Caliper Carriers, Brembo 4-Pot calipers, pads, stainless braided hoses (call to confirm spec)and all associated mounting hardware and instructions. Minimum wheel diameter requirement is 7"x16" ET35, 4x100 & 38mm clearance between wheel hub and spoke rear. Call for latest prices from £745 GBP for the complete kit + carriage. ALSO *NEW* Golf IV/Leon/Octavia 323x28 Brembo 4-potGT type kit now available from £945 complete kit + carriage

[Schalke04]

It's the front calipers from the 996/Boxter that you need - as previously detailed



Here are the calipers (location = Perth)
Porsche 996 911 Boxster 986 Front Brembo Brake Calipers Pads 993 1997 TO 2004 | eBay

Here are the adapters (location UK)
VW Golf GTI MK1 BIG Brake Upgrade Porsche 996 Brembo Caliper Adapters BROO8 | eBay

Here are a set of rotors (location UK) - these 305mm rotors are a bit hard to find
FRONT GROOVED BRAKE DISCS BREMBO PADS SEAT IBIZA 1.8 TURBO CUPRA R 4 STUD 305MM | eBay

Here is a UK company supplying a full kit for close to $2K AUD
ThrottleBodies.com - Performance Induction Systems

I'm pretty sure the boxster rears for the 280mm discs

[GOLFBALLS]

Hold up.

WHY?

noone has mentioned or asked what the actual purpose/application the upgrade is for.

Daily driving? The odd track day? Full on race setup?

I just don't see much benefit in going to the trouble of a four piston setup for just a daily car that maybe gets the odd track day. Massive horsepower or not! 250km/hr is fast whether you have 100bhp or a massive 320bhp gtr28 garrett!! Having more horsepower doesn't automatically mean you need increased braking!

Two things will necessitate a brake upgrade: 1. More weight to the car OR 2. Needing to pull up from repeated higher speeds over a sustained period (racing).

So basically HARDER DRIVING, not simply a power increase.

If it's just the feel of the brakes you dislike why don't you make sure your current brakes are functioning properly first? Then if not, recondition your calipers front and rear, try a different good quality pads and disc brand like ATE, Ferodo, Zimmerman etc, or new brake hoses and see how it feels?

If they still feel bad then consider an upgrade.

But trust me, and i'm speaking from experience here, spending many hundreds on big upgrades is a waste of money if you mainly just use the car for streeting around.

I have run my car thru four back to back runs over 1000m from standstill to stop from 220k's/hr and thats hard braking!

My brakes got a little hot, but as i said earlier they were totally adequate under that punishment. They are actually VR6 single piston calipers with EBC pads (fast street), and 280mm Ate discs.

...Just sayin...

[Schalke04]

Hold up.

WHY?

noone has mentioned or asked what the actual purpose/application the upgrade is for.

Daily driving? The odd track day? Full on race setup?

I just don't see much benefit in going to the trouble of a four piston setup for just a daily car that maybe gets the odd track day. Massive horsepower or not! 250km/hr is fast whether you have 100bhp or a massive 320bhp gtr28 garrett!! Having more horsepower doesn't automatically mean you need increased braking!

Two things will necessitate a brake upgrade: 1. More weight to the car OR 2. Needing to pull up from repeated higher speeds over a sustained period (racing).

So basically HARDER DRIVING, not simply a power increase.

If it's just the feel of the brakes you dislike why don't you make sure your current brakes are functioning properly first? Then if not, recondition your calipers front and rear, try a different good quality pads and disc brand like ATE, Ferodo, Zimmerman etc, or new brake hoses and see how it feels?

If they still feel bad then consider an upgrade.

But trust me, and i'm speaking from experience here, spending many hundreds on big upgrades is a waste of money if you mainly just use the car for streeting around.

I have run my car thru four back to back runs over 1000m from standstill to stop from 220k's/hr and thats hard braking!

My brakes got a little hot, but as i said earlier they were totally adequate under that punishment. They are actually VR6 single piston calipers with EBC pads (fast street), and 280mm Ate discs.

...Just sayin...

Going to bring this thread back because I want better callipers. The main reason is a single piston floating style calliper is no were near as good at applying even pressure as a 4 pot will be. Plus I'm putting a gt3071 on my car and I'd like to have confidence in my brakes. I think it's false economy to rebuild my current brakes and install braided lines and do everything if in the end I'll more than likely still upgrade, false economy.

So from what I've learnt in the last 2 years is the rear 986 Boxster calliper is the one to get, quite a few company's make adapter kits for them. Just trying to now find some local callipers, then I'll order the braided lines and adapters