Front Brakes so confused
#1
Posted 08 May 2007 - 11:33 AM
I really want to upgrade the front brakes on my car. I was thinking of tidying up the bodywork first, but as BOK said at the Oxford meet at the weekend, if you don't upgrade your brakes, you'll have no bodywork to tidy up. Thanks Colin, good point
I was thinking of getting some grooved discs, which would look great behind my (now scuffed) wheels, but have been told that the pads don't last long. Is this correct?
And is it true that the only way to improve braking is by going bigger? I could go for the 260mm upgrade that the later Pumas had, but I'd prefer to even bigger to 280mm. Is there a particular brand/type of disc/pads that I should get or any that you could recommend?
advice needed
thanks in advance
Andy
#3
Posted 08 May 2007 - 11:51 AM
aim for at least 280s imo
however my car has a different servo to yours, pumaspeed told me on the phone that earlier pumas have a better servo than later pumas.....
maybe one day ill understand women ...... actually, on second thoughts.......
Glover - tells it how it is...there is only one opinion thats right, and its mine
#4
Posted 08 May 2007 - 11:54 AM
Bigger = more heat capacity + braking power
Grooved disks deglaze the pads, but do make them wear faster.
forgive my ignorance, but what does does deglaze mean?
#5 Guest_darrenspalmer_*
Posted 08 May 2007 - 12:01 PM
(I assume)
#6
Posted 08 May 2007 - 12:44 PM
I wouldn't go for the 260 mm upgrade but at least 280mm.
Pads: mintex, ferodo, EBC
#8
Posted 08 May 2007 - 01:58 PM
So I guess grooved discs have their advantages and disadvantages then. They do look a lot better though.
I'll give PB and PS a call sometime this week and see what options they can offer me. The only thing is, I don't want 2nd hand or recond parts. I'd prefer to have new, even if it costs a little more. I don't really want to pay anymore than £400. But I think I'll definitely go for 280mm.
#9
Posted 08 May 2007 - 02:08 PM
I got my MKII Focus calipers off ebay, yes they were a tad blackened, but in near perfect condition and had only been on the previous car for a couple of thousand miles.
The best part being they only cost me £26 !!! (£20 delivery) still a handsome saving on the £300 odd price tag for conversions.....
This post has been edited by amino: 08 May 2007 - 02:08 PM
#10
Posted 08 May 2007 - 02:57 PM
my rear disc conversion was second hand and after the bead plaster had its way you could barely tell.
4 pot's will give you great brakes up front but will cost a small fortune.
130 bhp upgrade and handling that makes the puma feel useless on a corner
now thats money better spent.
#11
Posted 08 May 2007 - 03:07 PM
#12
Posted 08 May 2007 - 03:20 PM
#13
Posted 08 May 2007 - 04:00 PM
i think the drums are more than adaquate at the back, i have focus discs on mine and although i have a lot more confidence in my brakes now i think the massive front brakes are doing most of the work.
although if you have big wheels and big front brakes having drums can look a little out of place.
130 bhp upgrade and handling that makes the puma feel useless on a corner
now thats money better spent.
#14
Posted 09 May 2007 - 06:52 AM
We have HiSpec 310 mm at the front and the drums still on the back. On a track (Nurburgring) you sometimes wished you had discs at the rear (when braking very hard from high speeds), but with the drums still on it works fine for the rest.
We will have a rear disc conversion in the future. Because of the ABS I will wait till a few peeps have sorted it out.
#15
Posted 09 May 2007 - 07:28 AM
#17
Posted 09 May 2007 - 12:56 PM
This post has been edited by steve18n: 09 May 2007 - 12:57 PM
#18
Posted 09 May 2007 - 05:14 PM
Checked your front bushes recently?
My Puma doesn't do that and it still has drums on the rear.
#19
Posted 09 May 2007 - 05:38 PM
#20
Posted 09 May 2007 - 07:35 PM
That's correct. We noticed that at the Nurburgring (braking on the limit at high speeds). With the HiSpec setup ande EBC red stuff pads we have the braking power of a sports car at the front. We also have a full Powerflex setup and Koni sport suspension kit (coilovers). So the suspension is really up to it, that's not causing the squirming.