The best mod I ever made - brakes

[dirtysac]

I was not really expecting to this but over and above everything else so far I have to admit the brake upgrade is paying me back more than anything else.

I am running effectively LCR brakes.

Front:
323mm vented 40 groove discs (black zinc coated off ebay CRN performance)
Brembo 4 pot Junior GT callipers
Custom made goodridge braided hoses
Feredo DS pads

Rear:
256mm vented solid EBC discs (will be upgrading to grooves shortly)
Audi TT callipers (custom spacers see unlcefesters readers ride they are the same)
Custom made goodridge braided hoses
Feredo DS pads

The feel of the brakes is just unreal, 1000 times better than stock. The pedal has more travel, yet the brakes have more bite. I can brake so much later than before its untrue. Not only can I brake later I can roll into corners at much higher speed because I can actually feel the car through the pedal. I would suggest that this is more down to the rears than the brembo's though after reading what unclefester said. The front bite though is all 4 pot.

Therefore I suggest if you have the cash, upgrade your rears to 256 vented, try if you can to get LCR's then you wont need the spacers, I would suggest 312mm min on the front though. If you can stretch to the brembo's or beyond than go for it, i.e. R32 rotors or porsche (they are brembo's by the way, just bigger rotors).

I have ABR's, remap, struts etc etc and I really do believe the brakes are the best investment I have ever made above anything else. They have wiped over 30seconds off my ring time along.

Get better brakes you will not believe just much more you get from the car.

 

[volvic]

so how much did it all come to?

 

[dirtysac]

Rears:
£30 for callipers from ebay
£30 for spacers (not need if you buy LCR callipers)
£10 for hoses (discount due to buy fronts at the same time)
Pads were £50
Fitted was £50

Fronts:
Callipers + carriers + pads = £900
Hoses £30
Fitting £50
Note: You could do save £500 be getting LCR used brembo's

Disc's: £170 total

So the total is alot to be honest, but actually You could just upgrade to 312mm on the front and get 256mm on the rear. You can do that for around £300.

 

[devonutopia]

I paid £500 just for front actual oem LCR brembos, with ds2500 pads and stock discs + carriers. They are damn good brakes though - no point me uprating the rears as they do sod all in braking anyway.

Very very nice brakes though. The feel of 4 pots is excellent.

 

[ChrisUK]

I take it if you upgrade to LCR brembo's, you will also need to get bigger wheels ?

 

[dirtysac]

I have 18" OEM LCR wheels on my TDI. But if you don't you need 18"s and probably spacers.

With regards the rears devon I would suggest upgrading, its not expensive and its not the brake force its the amount of feel they add to brake pedal. Seriously its unbelievable and it is worth doing honestly. You can probably do it for as little as £60 (without ds500 pads though).


I have to admit its not the cheapest mod I have done to the car but it is the mod I am most pleased with, plus its the one that has stopped my stoving in the front end at least three times already.

 

[Fl@pper]

more travel ? did you change the master cylinder ?

 

[UncleFester]

more travel ? did you change the master cylinder ?

I had more travel intially until the system was bled properly - i thought it was a 'feature' at first, I didn't realise the Leon had such an awful system to bleed!

 

[TAK]

I bought some FEDRO racing pads front n rear for standard discs(SEAT 18T 20v CUPRA)and there such an improvment.Im running REVO on max.SPS 3 revo switch BOOST on 9 and TIMING on 7 and it stops fine enough.Also got K&N and SCORPION EXHAUST STAINLESS FULL SYSTEM +FORGE DV with atmosphericks(SOUNDS GREAT)runs great to, just loving it,oh yes the FEDRO racing pads were £200inc P+P from demon tweeks,thats front and rear.

 

[JONNYVT]

Hello, how have you found the zinc coating, does it really stop the rust? I am about to order some discs from CRN and am not sure whether to go fot the coating. I usually spray the inner of the discs with high temp paint, but this does not stop the outer edges rusting. get back to me asap

 

[rompetangas]

I also am in process of upgrading my brakes, i must speak with Bill..., the brake hoses came out really cheap, where you bought???