Brake upgrade

[vRS_Pagey]

Guys,

I will soon be receiving a complete GTi brake set up, the rears are ear marked for the back of my vRS (after the calipers are refurbed to match my S3 fronts).  I am hoping to upgrade the front 288mm set up on swmbo's GT to the 312mm, I was under the assumption that the calipers are identical, but the carriers are slightly deeper to accomodate the larger discs, the question is, is it ok if I just change the carriers over rather than having to change the complete caliper which will require bleeding etc?

Cheers, Lee.

[jon-tfsi]

I have read several times that this is the case mate.

If your on 55mm struts and have the 288mm setup its just discs and carriers needed.
The 50mm struts with 280mm brakes are a problem though as the hubs are different.

Keith who runs washshop on here has done this to his Caddy. Might be worth contacting him?

[rex]

Hi, changing the carriers is enough. I know some people who only changed the carriers. I changed the carriers also because I wanted the same color on the carrier and caliper. If color is not an issue, just change the carriers.
The calipers used for 288x25 and 312x25 discs are identical.

[dodds-gttdi]

I changed over both my calipers and carriers to the 312mm setup before finding out that I only needed the carriers.   At the same time I added in braided brake lines to the front so would have had to bleed the brakes anyway. I can confirm that the calipers are identical as I compared part numbers when I had them both off the car. I don't know if you can use your old pads or need different ones for the 312mm discs. I got the calipers, disc and pads in near new condition for £60 so would have been rude not to fit them all.  

That reminds me, I've a set of calipers (that fit the 288mm and 312mm setup found on 140 GT TDi's, 170 GT TDi's and GTI Golfs for sale. Anybody interested?  

[rex]

Pads are identical.

That reminds me, I've a set of calipers (that fit the 280mm and 312mm setup found on 140 GT TDi's, 170 GT TDi's and GTI Golfs for sale. Anybody interested? 

The calipers used for 280x22mm discs don't go on 140 GT TDI, 170 GT TDI or GTI's  .

[dodds-gttdi]

Pads are identical.

That reminds me, I've a set of calipers (that fit the 280mm and 312mm setup found on 140 GT TDi's, 170 GT TDi's and GTI Golfs for sale. Anybody interested? 

The calipers used for 280x22mm discs don't go on 140 GT TDI, 170 GT TDI or GTI's  .

Edited above to say 288mm discs   

[vRS_Pagey]

Thanks guys, I will need to get my vernier gauge out to measure the struts, or will they be 55mm if the discs are 288mm?

Sandy, I was going to PM you for further info as I knew you was running 312mm fronts. 

[rex]

Thanks guys, I will need to get my vernier gauge out to measure the struts, or will they be 55mm if the discs are 288mm?

No need to measure. They are 55mm if you have 288mm discs. 

[dodds-gttdi]

Thanks guys, I will need to get my vernier gauge out to measure the struts, or will they be 55mm if the discs are 288mm?

Sandy, I was going to PM you for further info as I knew you was running 312mm fronts. 

As Rex says, 288mm brakes are on 55mm struts. The 140 and 170 TDi's were both fitted with the larger dia struts because of the heavier engine. For minimal amount of work all you will need to change is the carriers and discs. If SWMBO allows (or doesn't see) I'd powdercoat the spare calipers you have, fit a pair of HEL braided hoses to them (from http://www.brake-lines.co.uk/) at £30ish for the fronts (would be rude not to!!  ) and fit the lot in one go. 

I know I'm not helping... 

[vRS_Pagey]

Thanks Rex, and Sandy, NO you are not helping......

When they arrive I will be sitting on a front an rear set from a GTi and the original fronts from my vRS (essentially the same as the GTi) although the discs and pads are proper fooked, but I do have a new set of front pads.  The plan is get the GTi rears powder coated to match these -



 

And fit on the vRS, then remove the carrier from the GTi fronts paint them in black hammerite and fit them on the front of the GT along with the GTi 312mm discs and the new pads.  I will probably try to sell on the 288mm if they will fit on lower models in the mk5 range, but not that bothered.  Eventually I will try and get some R32/S3 rears for the vRS at which point I will swap the rears over to the vRS.............does that make sense??  

I presume a carrier, pad and disc swap won't be to much bother?

[danishmkvgti]

Thanks guys, I will need to get my vernier gauge out to measure the struts, or will they be 55mm if the discs are 288mm?

Sandy, I was going to PM you for further info as I knew you was running 312mm fronts. 

As Rex says, 288mm brakes are on 55mm struts. The 140 and 170 TDi's were both fitted with the larger dia struts because of the heavier engine. For minimal amount of work all you will need to change is the carriers and discs. If SWMBO allows (or doesn't see) I'd powdercoat the spare calipers you have, fit a pair of HEL braided hoses to them (from http://www.brake-lines.co.uk/) at £30ish for the fronts (would be rude not to!!  ) and fit the lot in one go. 

I know I'm not helping... 

Only car to have the 50mm struts is the 1,6 NA platform, where the calipercarrier is a part of the front hub. So it's easy to know whether or not you can change for other brakes 

[vRS_Pagey]

That's good to know, as it will make shifting the 288mm set up a lot easier. 

[rex]

I doubt there is a big demand for the 288mm set. The ones what have 280mm sets (1.4 MPI/FSI, 1.6 MPI/FSI, 1.9 TDI) will require a new hub, bearing and suspension to fit the 288mm discs (there are some guys that do this but not so many).
Another option is to sell the 288mm set to someone who need the lightest brake set for their 1/4 mile car (like I did) or if someone's caliper needs replacing due to fatigue.

One question... why didn't you use you existing Octavia vRS OEM brakes (the 312mm ones) instead of the newly bough GTI calipers and carriers?

[danishmkvgti]

That's good to know, as it will make shifting the 288mm set up a lot easier. 

 

[vRS_Pagey]

I doubt there is a big demand for the 288mm set. The ones what have 280mm sets (1.4 MPI/FSI, 1.6 MPI/FSI, 1.9 TDI) will require a new hub, bearing and suspension to fit the 288mm discs (there are some guys that do this but not so many).
Another option is to sell the 288mm set to someone who need the lightest brake set for their 1/4 mile car (like I did) or if someone's caliper needs replacing due to fatigue.

One question... why didn't you use you existing Octavia vRS OEM brakes (the 312mm ones) instead of the newly bough GTI calipers and carriers?

Good question, the OE vRS discs and pads will need replacing in approx' 5k, but the set I am getting have only covered 17k, and when I sell the car I will put it back to standard and either sell the brakes separately or keep them for the next car (either an ED30 or Scirocco).  I wasn't intending changing the Golf brakes although after feeling the difference between them and the S3 set up they are pants!!