2.0 16v front brakes

[chris g 0]

I've got a 2.0 16v on a K plate. Now after reading a few posts about the breaks on these cars it appears that they aren't considered as being very good.

 

Now the brakes on my car are absolutely fantastic, I think they are much better than in any other car i've owned or driven. Even the guy at my local VW specialist garage said they were the best breaks he'd found on a C.

 

Are the standard 2.0 brakes really as bad as people make out and if so do you think mine may have been upgraded? If so what to? 280mm G60's? How can I tell if they are standard apart from the size?

[reaper1_3 0]

well ive got a 2ltr 16v and the brakes are terrible a case of press and press more and eventually the rado stops!!! next job is to upgrade em if yours are as good as you say i would hazard a guess they have been ugraded not being ab expert on brakes i would guess you could measure em?

:D

[cymru-corrado 0]

my 1.8 16v brakes are pants, rears are pathetic,being upgraded once engine has been done.

[Supercharged 2]

hmmm - I drove an N reg 16v a few months ago and was also impressed with the brakes compared to other valvers i've driven... maybe some did get the bigger ones from the factory, Karmann did appear to use whatever was available in alot of cases...

[Baz2004 0]

I would take the “if its not broke don’t fix it” approach on this one - If you’re happy with them I wouldn’t bother changing, 16V brakes with good pads have adequate stopping power for any standard valver. Having compared the pads on both 16V and g60s I can say there is little difference in terms of size, the main benefit would be in using the bigger disks.

 

A set of braded lines and xdrilled disks might make a slight improvement if that’s what your after, but I would be more inclined to upgrade the rears (mrk 3/4) first before the front as they can be problematic.

[davidwort 0]

well ive got a 2ltr 16v and the brakes are terrible a case of press and press more and eventually the rado stops!!! next job is to upgrade em if yours are as good as you say i would hazard a guess they have been ugraded not being ab expert on brakes i would guess you could measure em?

:D

 

Always puzzled me a bit this, I reckon it's mostly down to old cars running cheap or worn out brake parts and particularly the pad quality.

My 16v brakes are fine, providing the rear calipers aren't siezed, the pads and disks are all good and the fluid has been changed and bled properly.

I also think drilled or grooved disks are a waste of money, they'll just eat pads and run the risk of cracking.

By all means fit G60 brakes if you want to improve the resistance to brake fade(not that that's ever been a problem for me), but I can't see it generally improving the feel or responsiveness in most day to day driving.

I think VW got it right really, now the mk1 golf... :pale:

 

David.

[h100vw 0]

[

I think VW got it right really, now the mk1 golf... :pale:

 

David.

 

A mate of mine has a Turbo Technics mk1 and still has std disks on the front of it and drums at the rear too.

 

He doesn't complain about them?

 

I think a lot of it is down to being spolit by the effiecency of modern brakes in general.

 

The ones on our works Kangoo are a lot keener than the ones on my mk3 16V and syncro. The syncro works better the harder you push and it really pulls up when you stamp on them. The MK3 is positively scary, worse than any of the mk1s I have run. Maybe new discs wouyld help, just reluctant to spend money on it with the prospect of leaving the country any time.

 

I do believe that good maintenance is important on brake systems. 4 new discs and pads and a fluid change makes all the difference when done all at once.

 

Gavin

[sciroccotune 0]

I have managed to fix my ABS!! I must say that my brakes are just better all round now.. or at least seem that way :;-):

[StuartFZR400 0]

It stops much better than the old Mk2 Golf I had, but its still a gradual process, slightly spongy too (could be improved with braided hoses). The ABS lightly judders on and off sometimes, not a nice feeling, which kinda tells me that the brakes can do no more than that, and bigger ones would only do the same. Maybe some fatter tyres will ask more of these average brakes.

[blue95 0]

The brakes on my N reg valver are spot on, all standard too.

 

Just recently bled the system, they reckon it is suppose to be done every 2 years as the recommended DOT4 is hydroscopic (or whatever you call it!)

 

Talking about standard stuff, I have found my wipers work very well too, at all speeds.

[StuartFZR400 0]

My wipers work 90% well - they are Bosh with the fins on. They are very cheap from GSF and make no sound whatsoever. A better contact could be made though, but not sufficient to warrant a Lupo conversion IMO.

[blue95 0]

Know someone who fitted the lupo ones and hates them!

 

They are looking to go back to standard!!

[wilkes 0]

ive got a 2 litre ,had the standard brakes and it was very good ,but a bit scary if you were at high speeds ,so i fitted cross drilled and grooved g60 discs with the caliper carriers and its better still ,my bro has a 52 reg corsa sxi and there only as good as those though ,better technology i suppose .