Are Golf mk1 brakes ment to be naff??

Hello, i've checked everything there is to check on my brakes (1983 1.8 gti) and everything seems fine as far as i can tell, so that begs the question…… are the brakes on mk 1 golf's just naff??

IMO No they ain't naff. Its usually poor rear brake adjustment and old brake fluid that makes them seems poor.

Also rememeber they cars were built beofre ABS etc etc, so compard to a modern cars may seem s bit poor, but I prefer the MK1 brakes to my Audi A4's anyday :wink:

I think they are crying our for a bigger master cylinder/servo upgrade from a 16v golf/rado. This makes a big difference before you go the big brake route.

I support turbo's comments.  Change the brake fluid and make sure the rear's are adjusted correctly.

If after all that you are still not happy upgrade the fronts to 256mm dia disks.

Cheers

Rich

I was worried about mine even though it's got 256mm fronts and 16v server & rear disk conversion. The problem I have is with the vague feel, due to the long linkage between the pedal and the master cylinder I think. Coming from a new wrx I thought my Mk1 had serious braking problems till the mechanic took me out in it and locked it up in the dry no problems. Just takes getting used to, took me about 6 weeks though…

That's a good point Dexter - you should be able to lock the brakes in the dry

I drive a Mk4 Gti also which has a very over servoed feel to the brakes and jumping into the Mk1 it feels like nothing is happening, but you just have to give a bit more of a hoof.

That said I am upgrading the master cylinder at the moment

My previous car was a MG Midget, so the brakes are excellent in the Golf. Saying that though the car has had new rear brake drums and clyinders in the last 1000 miles. so that is probably a factor.

A lot depends on what car you are coming from too. At one stage I was switching between new cars and my Mk1 golf and there is a massive difference!

Personally I think most new cars today are massively over-servoed in the brake department. You only need to touch the brake pedal and you are in heavy braking mode.

Change the brake fluid, check the drums  linkages for wear and make sure the front pdas are in good nick. Older cars just need more of a shove on the pedal to achieve the same braking effect, the brakes are still very effective  :wink:

Cant agree about the standard brakes  i'm afraid ops: . Much better progression, feel & stopping power with an uprated MC/Servo & big brake conversion in such a light car for me. I wish I had gone down the Wilwood 4 pot route now as well.

It is also definitely worth adjusting the push rod between the pedal and the servo. I took about 5 or 6 mm of free travel out of my brakes doing this, and that believe it or not made quite a difference.

how did you do that maniac?

Try changening the Master Cylinder, I am sure it will make a Diffrence.

Cheers

I cant complain about the brakes on my Cabby. The other day I came off the motorway and hadn't spotted the static line of cars… all with their brake lights blaring!!

Needless to say I lamped on and heard the reasuring skidding noise on the dry tramac!! God knows what would have happened if it was wet.

On the other hand if you drive the Golf full time, you'd never know the difference between newer cars' brakes would you?

Dan

This seems a silly little thing to do, but for me it made a huge difference: I greased the linkage between the brake pedal and the servo link, on the inside of the car (under the dash). The part of the cross linkage in the engine compartment had been greased; but the part inside the car had been overlooked.

moreno said

how did you do that maniac?

There's an adjustment at one ond of the long rod that goes across the bulkhead. I seem to remember it was very awkward to get to, but it was a while back when i did mine, so can't remember exactly how I did it now.

Mike.

Cheers for all the replies!!