Brake Upgrades on 16V GTI

[th3_f15t]

Cool, thanks for your help. Found someone who can sort me a set of Mk3 280mm (from a 1995 model) front calipers and will source a set of Mk4 Golf rears and get them all refurbished up. Brake upgrades sorted!

[gazareth]

think the 1989 cars had the handbrake cables running under the axle? the alloy rear calipers are quite prone to corrosion around the piston seals so it would be good idea to strip that part down and give it a good clean out. unless they are new of course

[th3_f15t]

Regardless of what I do, all my brakes get a full rebuild before being installed, done enough single piston calipers now that it's not too hard for me at all!

[tinman]

Provided you still have the 16v engine in the vehicle, why are you bothering with bigger brakes?

The size of the brakes are to do with weight of the vehicle. The g60 and mk3s all weigh more than the 16v so got the bigger brakes as they needed them.

By adding bigger brakes to your 16v you are simply adding unsprung weight to the vehicle, thereby making it handle worse.

If you are adding bigger brakes because you're overheating the existing brakes, then simply replace everything for new, and you'll get a much bigger improvement than you're expecting.

[th3_f15t]

I don't have the original 1.8 16V but the 2.0 16V engine, plus I plan to further upgrade to an ABF unit which will see the power output increase significantly over the stock specification. I'm also going to be running a lot of Mk3 Golf gear in my Mk2 so will also be adding some additional mass to the car so overall, bigger brakes are welcomed.

However, totally agree that for low tune or stock cars, bigger brakes are unsprung weight that may have a negative effect, but when did anyone have an accident because their brakes were too good?

[VWSteve]

Hi I have mk2 1991 rear disk set up complete both sides disks pads and calipers and brackets possible the cables too if any good to you?? They are off a gti I broke have all the bolts everything right back to the axel. Steve

[th3_f15t]

Sorry to drag this post back up, but wondering which brake lines I need? I'm looking at Hel ones as I've always used, and loved, them, but do I need the kit with 4 lines (when running Mk4 rear calipers):

http://www.brake-lines.co.uk/hel-brake-lines-for-volkswagen-golf-mk2-1.8-gti-139-bhp-rear-discs-1986-1988.html

Or stick with the 6 line set:

http://www.brake-lines.co.uk/hel-brake-lines-for-volkswagen-golf-mk2-1.8-gti-139-bhp-rear-discs-1988-1992.html

Thanks for the help!

[lemski]

4 line kit. But hel do a 6line kit with the mk4 conversion pipes

[th3_f15t]

4 line kit. But hel do a 6line kit with the mk4 conversion pipes

I'll give them an e-mail and get them to select them for me... Probably best!

[Craigwilson]

Provided you still have the 16v engine in the vehicle, why are you bothering with bigger brakes?

The size of the brakes are to do with weight of the vehicle. The g60 and mk3s all weigh more than the 16v so got the bigger brakes as they needed them.

By adding bigger brakes to your 16v you are simply adding unsprung weight to the vehicle, thereby making it handle worse.

If you are adding bigger brakes because you're overheating the existing brakes, then simply replace everything for new, and you'll get a much bigger improvement than you're expecting.

I have the 280mm girling 60 callipers and they are substantially heavier than the single pot 280 calliper, is the handling different noticeable with this extra "unsprung weight"