Wonder if anyone can help am looking at upgrading my brakes and I don’t know if I have standard or big brake how do you tell and am looking at putting stainless brake lines any recommendations
Hi
Big brake fronts should be marked FSX 16S on the calipers and will have a 54mm diameter piston. Discs are 270mm diameter
Standard fronts have a 51mm diameter piston. Discs are 255mm diameter
Big brake rears are marked M160 on the caliper and have a 35mm diameter piston. Discs are 276mm diameter
Standard rears have a 32mm diameter piston, caliper I have is marked NBK R Y5. Discs are 251mm diameter
Why do you want to upgrade them? What’s actually wrong with the current set up?
[quote=H1S VRB]
Why do you want to upgrade them? What’s actually wrong with the current set up?]
They are starting to rust so thought as I was going to change them thought I would upgrade
I have not experienced the bigger brakes but am told they stop the car a lot quicker:-)
My advice is to drive an SVT sport with big brakes to see if they suit your driving.
Be aware that a big brake upgrade would involve discs, pads, calipers and a big brake servo at the very least.
Your idea of adding braided hoses will assist the efficiency.
If you buy secondhand calipers they will likely need to be refurbished - new pistons and seals/gaiters.
I would not fit used discs and pads but that is up to you.
Easy to fit but upgrade likely to cost £4-500.
Owners of the SVT sport particularly where used on track will probably advise money well spent:-)
Add to that the insurance premium increase. When you tell them of the upgrade, they assume you drive too fast for the ordinary brakes to cope and load your premium accordingly. It’s worth checking with your insurers before going any further. I looked into it a while back and decided it would be cheaper and more convenient to sell my current mk2 and buy a car which already had big brakes. I decided to overhaul my current set up for much less money and improved the performance.
‘Add to that the insurance premium increase. When you tell them of the upgrade, they assume you drive too fast for the ordinary brakes to cope and load your premium accordingly. It’s worth checking with your insurers before going any further.’
Really - wow! in best Gordon Ramsey style.
Shouldn’t be a surprise as some of these companies consider an induction kit a go faster mod.
Laughable really as most of us on here who would consider such an upgrade are the wrong side of 50.
I do not think the typical loss adjuster will be measuring the diameters of brake pistons and discs to wriggle out of a £1500 claim.
My answer in such a pedantic situation would be to say that I bought the car with them already fitted and was not aware they were not standard.
Hi,
If you do have any issues with insurance at all for a brake conversion then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.
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Add to that the insurance premium increase. When you tell them of the upgrade, they assume you drive too fast for the ordinary brakes to cope and load your premium accordingly. It’s worth checking with your insurers before going any further. I looked into it a while back and decided it would be cheaper and more convenient to sell my current mk2 and buy a car which already had big brakes. I decided to overhaul my current set up for much less money and improved the performance.
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I can concur with this.
My daughters ex boyfriend fitted Focus RS Discs and Calipers to his 1.8 Focus and saw an increase in his premium.
Thats the way to do it!!!