uprated rear brakes on a 16v mk3

[Gavv8]

Really? My ABF is 165hp and I've got 288mm brakes up front with Mintex M1144 pads and standard sized brakes at the rear with Mintex OEM pads (I don't run ABS either) and goodridge braided lines all round and I feels the stopping power is not sufficient. 312mm brakes should have been standard on the 16v and VR6 I reckon 

Why don't you run abs?

[murraymint]

Let me rephrase that. The car stops very well. But I just feel like the tyres have plenty of grip available after the brakes are maxed out.

I don't have ABS because the front wiring got ripped off and the rears don't have the ABS rings in them (wouldn't come out on the brake change).

Master cylinder good, no leaks anywhere, fluid is fine. I just feel there is a lot of fading as well. Needs better brake cooling.

Fair enough. Not sure what discs I had I had some Ferrodo pads.

Shame as the discs wore perfectly evenly, looked like they'd been on a lathe but they've been sitting for quite a while now and I'd imagine they're useless.

Really was impressed,  bite was sharp right down the the final stop. The 1.6 doesn't have loads of sheilds everywhere though so maybe cooling is better.

The standard set up was shocking.

Yh to say my old 1.6 brakes where shocking would be a huge understatement! The valvers 288 set up feels worlds apart from the 1.6, but I had the abs flash while braking hard into a corner the other day, don't know if it was reassuring of worrying lol

[Len]

Front discs wont fit!

The rear discs have a deep offset to clear the hubs.

[Bellend]

ABS shouldn't flash when it kicks in as far as I'm aware. Never has on any car I've driven!

[Gavv8]

I've seen it flicker on mine when i anchored up for a deer in the road one dark and early morning but i doubt i'd have noticed it in the daylight.

[tweed]

Really? My ABF is 165hp and I've got 288mm brakes up front with Mintex M1144 pads and standard sized brakes at the rear with Mintex OEM pads (I don't run ABS either) and goodridge braided lines all round and I feels the stopping power is not sufficient. 312mm brakes should have been standard on the 16v and VR6 I reckon 

this doesn't sound right to me mate. Maybe something wrong.
when my abs packed up I locked the rears at 120mph. Standard rears and greenstuff pads front grooved disc's. The brakes were cold, but once warm is was better but I also locked the front at 90mph, well one front wheel due to diff. The abs was sorted after that 

had toyo t1r's and it had new master cylinder fitted same time as the brakes. 288 setup

bigger disc just spread the heat so it takes a lot more before fade

[Khare]

Reason I don't run ABS is partly due to me not being bothered to get new abs rings for the back and dismantling everything, and partly because I couldn't find the correct plugs for the front, but mainly because I like being 100% in control and I don't get that with ABS. If I'm braking hard into a corner and the rear starts to lock up for me it helps turning in. It's just my driving style.

bigger disc just spread the heat so it takes a lot more before fade

Wrong. The further outwards the disc is the easier it will be to stop, and also bigger discs will have a bigger contact patch. The fact they take longer to heat up is a bonus.

[tweed]

But isn't the 312mm upgrade just discs and carrier? Using same 288mm caliper?

[Khare]

The pad is bigger though I'm sure.

[tweed]

But isn't the 312mm upgrade just discs and carrier? Using same 288mm caliper?

I was just saying I had more than enough braking with my 288 setup. As said could lock up at silly speeds. Wouldn't need more stopping power. 

That's why I think something is not quite right with yours. I was always locking inside wheels, always tried to get braking done before turn in but sometimes braking points are on a bend