Brake's Advice Pls.

MGB_GT · Post by **MGB_GT** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:40 pm

I've decided that I can't keep kidding myself that the 480 brakes are good enough on my GT, they clearly aren't, and whilst not the cause of my accident, I am desperate to ensure no such incidents happen again. Thus I am finally fixing the ABS by installing a new pump, but I also want to put new Pads/Discs all round on the car.

I am happy to pay a reasonable price for quality parts, I really do want extra stopping power.

So can anyone recomend a good solution for a reasonable cost and does the fact I have ABS affect what I can purchase?

chris1roll · Post by **chris1roll** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:00 am

I'm assuming that it already has the vented discs and large calipers? In which case get proper VOLVO discs and proper VOLVO pads, coupled with a full fluid change....Castrol REsponse DOT 4 is the stuff.....(I'm not going to be drawn into an argument about DOT 5/5.1, if you want to risk it fine, but I aint putting it in my car) The extra money for the Volvo parts is worth it. They should then be more than adequate for you. This is the Set up I have upgraded to (ditching red dot grooved discs that I ate throught the grooves on

), that Edd is about to go to, and that Richard is using on his.

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:27 am

I got myself some brembo front vented discs and EBC kevlar pads and my 480t has some great stopping power

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:53 pm

Yes I had Textar original Volvo Pads and discs Rich/Edd/Chris are using for yonkers!Great stopping power.

I saw Mart had gone for some Kevlar EBC Black Stuff pads and went for a set of those on the same Volvo ATE discs.Stopping distance reduced dramatically ,no fade and quicker bite!And no brake dust all over yer Tauri!

Got em from EBC Brakes Direct site getting 10% off,about Â£35.

Steve

lee · Post by **lee** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:55 pm

I had volvo disks and pad which were fitted by volvo some 3 months before i got my turbo and I found them great until you wanted to drive properly then they were terrible. I then changed to brembo front vented disks with standard pads a bit better with a good cold bite and no hot bite. Then pads changed to textar from GSF better than standard with good cold good warm and a little when hot. LASEROWL has video footage of these on fire from braking hard.

I will now be drawn in to the arguement on fulid. Both me and LASEROWL agreed at the time of the brakes being on fire that it was down to the 5.1 that we had that tiny little bit of brakes left that stopped us from plunging some hundreds of feet to our deaths due to the higher temperatures it can handle. I am now running it in my T5 and from 148mph it will stop dead with no problems and also makes my clutch nicer. As for the story with the seals, a few of you on here now of a little car that one of my mates owns being a reno turbo2 from 1980. This is running 5.1 with no problems.

To end my post I would happly replace all my caliper seals every 3 years to run 5.1 (that that I have had to in the 4 years its been in there) to still be able to breath air.

MGB_GT · Post by **MGB_GT** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 1:12 am

Thanks all for your comments.

After discussions with my garage (the last time I tried to replace a set of brake pads, well let's just say it was a bit of a failure!), I've decided on a set of Volvo Pads, which I've ordered. I'll replace the discs too should these be required (I'm pretty sure they will).

As for brake fluid, it seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. Volvo say Dot 4.0, Halfrauds say Dot 5.0 and opinions here obviously differ. I've only got a std 2.0i, so the chances of setting fire to my brakes (I hope

), are reasonably slim. I do drive fast on occasion but certainly not as a matter of course, as frankly I can't afford the fuel! I've really only top-ended the car once or twice, the speedo read 125mph, but I think that's optimistic really. Usually I would drive at no more than 90mph, so something that can stop fine from there would be more than adequate for me.

With this in mind, would there really be any major advantage to be had from using Dot 5.0/5.1 fluid, and is it just the higher temprature's it can handle that makes it differ from 4.0?

If I do need new discs (only have the std Volvo ones now), I'm thinking of getting Vented ones on the front. Am i right in thinking:

a.) I'd need different pads and calipers for this to work?
b.) That the rear discs would still just be the standard ones?

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:45 pm

Hi Rob!

Yes the rear discs are the same.
You would need vented calipers to work with the vented discs.

I use DOT 5.1,to avoid the issue about the seals disintegrating!5.0 apparently perishes the seals long term.

Id still use EBC black stuff front pads but you arent so neerrrrr to me!

MGB_GT · Post by **MGB_GT** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:09 am

OK, well the Volvo pads are in, the ABS system is working, and the disc's will last another set of bads before needing replacment. My mechanic put DOT 5.0 in there (I usually provide the brake fluid, but never got a chance to get any). I mentioned the seals issue with 5.0 fluid, he said it would be fine as he used semi-synthetic fluid, not fully synthetic. Had you used the later then you are more than likley to get problems but he felt all round that 5.0 is better stuff and said the seals issue is not a problem. With this in mind, he'll be paying should this change as he's the only person bar myself that works on the car.

Went out tonight and did a few brake tests with the ABS from 50mph and then 80mph. My god does it stop so much quicker now. From 80mph down to 30mph is very sharp and I've got confidence in them now that if I need them, I can use them. Shame of all this being, I am certain the accident in Feb would never have happened with the ABS controller working and the brakes coming in that much quicker, but at least should I get into a sticky situation again, I'm much more likley to get out of it again. Hopefully once they've bedded in properly, it'll only improve further.

Thanks to all for thier advice though, it's appriciated.

robkendall · Post by **robkendall** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:59 am

MGB_GT wrote: I mentioned the seals issue with 5.0 fluid, he said it would be fine as he used semi-synthetic fluid, .

i thought that 5.0 would be fine anyway, and 5.1 *could* cause issues with seals?

MGB_GT wrote:Went out tonight and did a few brake tests with the ABS from 50mph and then 80mph. My god does it stop so much quicker now.

to my knowledge, ABS wont make the car stop any quicker, but just stops the wheels locking up, as when activated, *pumps* the brakes very fast, so the discs, hence wheels, keep turning, enabling the driver to 'steer' through or around potential hazard....ok, i agree that with ABS, there should be no loss of traction (ie skidding) so you should stop quicker in that respect, but i would think that the new pads and fluid are probably the cause of your brakes responding better!

rgrds
rob

MGB_GT · Post by **MGB_GT** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:29 pm

I agree, but in an emergengy you just brake, without ABS your brain has to take over, honestly can anyone's brain and foot movement outdo a computer calculating the equations for you?

clubman_dan · Post by **clubman_dan** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:27 pm

i would get the abs up and running, i aggree with you, my mates brother taqkes the piss saying that a good driver shouldn't need abs, however, in a split second decision you don't have time to worry about cadence braking and all that crap, you stomp the pedal. abs is definatley worth having imo
DAN

jimmyanderson123 · Post by **jimmyanderson123** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:01 pm

Does the GT have vented dics fitted like the Turbo because I have got solids just wondering if they have been changed in the past by someone who has not got a clue because they are crap at stopping????

Loki · Post by **Loki** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:10 am

I think it was just the turbo's which have vented disks. Try changing the pads 2 some beter spek ones. Are the disks in good order?

Loki

jimmyanderson123 · Post by **jimmyanderson123** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:55 pm

no the discs are knackered along with the pads going to change them next week!!!

What do you recommend?

Loki · Post by **Loki** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:36 am

Erm.... EBC Black Stuff r surposed 2 b good 4 the pads. Im not 2 sure about the disks tho. It depends on how much money u have 2 spend. U do get what u pay 4. Im running on some Ferodo Target pads, not the best but they r quite good, but dnt know what disks as ive not changed them since i got the car.

Loki

hjkort · Post by **hjkort** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:02 am

I use Pagid, semi race pads. Feel very good and have serious stopping power. For discs I use brembo. Seems like a very good combination.

why upgrade the brakes? I will not have anything on my car that will make it go slower... [quote from some american racing guy]

jimmyanderson123 · Post by **jimmyanderson123** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:32 pm

Hi guys and dolls,
dont mean to sound stupid but can you fit the vented brake discs on the gt, as it currently has solids????

chris1roll · Post by **chris1roll** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 6:30 pm

If like I did, you get the larger calipers and brackets and pads, yes, but you can't just buy some vented discs and fit them.

Loki · Post by **Loki** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:34 pm

Dont u have 2 change the hubs etc as well 2 upgrade 2 the vented 1ns?

Loki

hjkort · Post by **hjkort** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:32 am

No, hubs are the same from '86 to '95