Brake Improvement

[Panthera]

I am loving my GTi thus far, but I feel the brakes could be improved especially since I am 'last of the late brakers' type of driver.

The pedal was great, very sharp and responsive when I first had the car and now I am 'playing' more now, I want to improve them.  I seem to be able to boil the brake fluid without even trying it seems.

Without spending ££££ on new brake set-up from the likes of Brembo, etc... I want to improve the stock brakes so they can perform at their best.  

So, I thought about changing the OEM DOT 4 brake fluid for DOT 5.1 (basicially something with a higher boiling point), braided brake lines and do the discs and pads.  So what is out there for me to get this done?

My current discs front and rear look okay, they have a slight lip, but that's about it.  I have heard that this stuff is pretty good...ATE Super Blue  - which is Dot 4?

I have heard that I should not bother with 5.1 brake fluid. Now from my understanding 5.1 has to be replaced more frequently than 4, but if I keep with DOT 4 I am going to have to replace this fluid about 6-7 times a year - whats cost effective then?

When I had my Impreza sport (N/A) that I modified quite substantially. One of the upgrades was brakes. The front brakes  from stock 1 pot calipers to 2 pots, from rear drums to single pots. Grooved and ventilated discs (Not cross drilled), Mintex M1155 pads, braided lines and 5.1 brake fluid and I had so much confidence in the braking I could brake from silly speeds in next to no time, time and again.

So surely I can do similar, but by keeping the stock calipers?  Better brakes, pads combo and braided lines and 5.1?

Cheers

N.B. Fast road use only - no track days

[RENNTAG]

Use a the search bar on the forum for the Not Quite so Big Brake Kit (NQSBBK)

Might be the sort of thing you want without spending a fortune on brakes. Great setup i would highly recomend them

[sub39h]

there is a thread in the Track Day Technical explaining why going for DOT 5.1 fluid is pointless (and can be dangerous for some of your braking system)

as our resident brake guru DaveB put it to me once (i'm paraphrasing but you get the idea): if VAG brake fluid is good enough for the Veyron/Lambos/Bentleys etc. then it's good enough for our humble hatchback

if you've not had your brake fluid changed recently it might be worth a flush and change for VAG stuff instead, but if you're insistent on getting uprated brake fluid most people tend to for Motul RBF 600. it's the 2nd best brake fluid on the market (in terms of boiling points etc) but is less than half the price of the top stuff (the name of which eludes me at present

anyhow, have a read of the thread i mentioned for yourself, and then make a decision. if you want better brakes i reckon better pads would be a better use of your money if you've had a brake fluid change already recently. if you're not going for heavy track work most recommend Ferodo DS2500

Edit: i have an NQS BBK too and i think they're great. speak with DaveB and he'll give you advice depending on your requirements/budget

[Panthera]

Hi, Thanks for that heads up on track day brake fluid thread ( http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,35263.0.html )  Looks like I will stick with a better DOT4 fluid and get some braided SS lines.  That will be a start.  I am looking into NQSBBK's.

there is a thread in the Track Day Technical explaining why going for DOT 5.1 fluid is pointless (and can be dangerous for some of your braking system)

as our resident brake guru DaveB put it to me once (i'm paraphrasing but you get the idea): if VAG brake fluid is good enough for the Veyron/Lambos/Bentleys etc. then it's good enough for our humble hatchback

if you've not had your brake fluid changed recently it might be worth a flush and change for VAG stuff instead, but if you're insistent on getting uprated brake fluid most people tend to for Motul RBF 600. it's the 2nd best brake fluid on the market (in terms of boiling points etc) but is less than half the price of the top stuff (the name of which eludes me at present

anyhow, have a read of the thread i mentioned for yourself, and then make a decision. if you want better brakes i reckon better pads would be a better use of your money if you've had a brake fluid change already recently. if you're not going for heavy track work most recommend Ferodo DS2500

Edit: i have an NQS BBK too and i think they're great. speak with DaveB and he'll give you advice depending on your requirements/budget

[ashley]

Hi, Thanks for that heads up on track day brake fluid thread ( http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,35263.0.html )  Looks like I will stick with a better DOT4 fluid and get some braided SS lines.  That will be a start.  I am looking into NQSBBK's.

there is a thread in the Track Day Technical explaining why going for DOT 5.1 fluid is pointless (and can be dangerous for some of your braking system)

as our resident brake guru DaveB put it to me once (i'm paraphrasing but you get the idea): if VAG brake fluid is good enough for the Veyron/Lambos/Bentleys etc. then it's good enough for our humble hatchback

if you've not had your brake fluid changed recently it might be worth a flush and change for VAG stuff instead, but if you're insistent on getting uprated brake fluid most people tend to for Motul RBF 600. it's the 2nd best brake fluid on the market (in terms of boiling points etc) but is less than half the price of the top stuff (the name of which eludes me at present

anyhow, have a read of the thread i mentioned for yourself, and then make a decision. if you want better brakes i reckon better pads would be a better use of your money if you've had a brake fluid change already recently. if you're not going for heavy track work most recommend Ferodo DS2500

Edit: i have an NQS BBK too and i think they're great. speak with DaveB and he'll give you advice depending on your requirements/budget

If you are not fussed about the weight the s3 set up is the cheapest way forward otherwise the nqs bbk would be ideal.

I doubt you are boiling the fluid through road use however late you are breaking. It just the standard brakes have a good initial bite but not allot else 

[the bruce]

there is a thread in the Track Day Technical explaining why going for DOT 5.1 fluid is pointless (and can be dangerous for some of your braking system)

DOT5 is dangerous. Both DOT4 and DOT5.1 is fine on a GTI. 


Search for:

- Tyrol brake stiffening kit
- nqsbbk
- Endless MX72 pads
- RS3 vents
- Ate SuperBlue and Motul RBF600 fluid