91' 8v gti disc brakes, size??

[newlad]

hi all, needing new front brake discs and pads on my 1991 gti 8v mk2, they are completely standard and i have no intension of major upgrade, i do however fancy some drilled and grooved discs,
my questions are - what size are they? and what make is the best all rounder?
i'm not a speed demon and i dont slam on, but want quality
cheers

[Diamond Hell]

Convert to 280mm or go home.

The difference is like night and day.

Well worth doing and running on OEM pads and rotors.

[newlad]

thanks for the advice, what exactly does that entail? new parts wise, are my calipers ok for them?

[Diamond Hell]

I'd fit the master cylinder, you'll need the right flexi-hoses, get the calipers with the hubs from the donor, fit new pads and rotors. 

You don't have to fit new wheel bearings, but it would make sense to.  You might as well do the bottom ball joints if they're a bit slack while you're in there, too.

It's a very much worthwhile upgrade - 280mms will NOT wilt and give massively better stopping power.

[Wayne]

Drilled and grooved discs are a waste of time.

[rob.043]

On a 91 8v you probably have 239mm discs. I may be wrong, but I think some run out cars may have been upped to the 16v brakes, with a 256mm disc. So a quick measure of the existing may be worthwhile just to make sure.

if its 239mm, you need the wider vented discs with the pads to fit. Other non GTi models had 239mm solid discs, with thicker pads in the same calipers. So make sure you get GTi items.

Standard parts from GSF have been good to me, as said above, drilled/grooved discs are not raved about on these cars, but feel free.

If you want more braking power, or suffer fade- upgrading to the bigger 16v or the 280mm G60 brakes is the way to go. Hae a search for all the info, its been covered lots on here. 

[mk2bal]

The guy has said he's got no intention of major upgrades. Drilled and grooved disks are a very good upgrade for the money. He doesn't need to uprate calipers, carriers, master cylinder, disks and pads etc etc. Its not a turbo nutter bastard!! Get some black diamond drilled and grooved, for a 1er, your not going to do better. Have had them on my 1.3 and my current 16v, I've still got drums on the rear but the brakes are plenty good enough with d/g fronts. Talk about over engineering you lot its only an 8v ffs!!!

[Diamond Hell]

Drilled and grooved disks are a very good upgrade for the money.

Why?  The discs crack from the holes and the grooves eat pads.

Both modifications are designed to stop the pads floating off the discs when they overheat.

Avoid overheating and don't float the pads, avoid the need for sub-optimal modifications.

Go 280, don't p*ss about.

[mk2bal]

Oh that's weird then, I must be imagining the difference. Yeah put 280's on a 110bhp 8v then?!!!

[Neo Badness]

Have to say 280's are a worthwhile upgrade, easy one of the best mod's I've done.

Audi S2 23mm mastercylinder is "apparently" a direct swap. I can't find mine to test the theory though.

Granted my car is the superior 16v and so justifies it .

Still, I'd rather drive a slow car with brilliant brakes than a fast car with cr@p brakes.

To answer OP 239mm vented discs on all 8v's. Even a set of 256mm ones would be a worthwhile upgrade and they're cheap as chips as everyone is going to 280's.