rear discs or drums?

whats the general opinion regardin rear disc conversions? are they worth it is there a notable difference in stoppin power? just took the drums off my "new" project to discover no shoes no nothin!!! :dontknow:

Just fitting shoes would be an improvement!!

Serious though, should make a big difference, I've got rear discs and brakes are good but never had rear drums so dont know the difference!

Cheers
Andy

Just put big drums off a '94 passat estate on mine.

Dead easy swap and stopping power is too much at the moment. Locks up the rears way to early. This can be altered however, by experimenting with either a Gti wheel cylinder or a small block wheel cylinder - The internal sizes of the hydraulic piston are different, equating to more/less pressure being applied!

In my opinion, not worth adding discs!

if its a GTI rear disc's are very good with braded hoses, and sicrocco 16v had brake cables. i'd have them anyday over drums, but best to use mk3 or 4 calipers mk2 stuff are too pron to seizing up.

This old chestnut again .  IMO the original drums are fine.  Fit new pads, adjust them correctly and keep them adjusted.  The Mk1 shell is too light for rear disks or bigger drums.  Spend your money on the front brakes - disks, pads, braided hosesm, servo, master cylinder.

Many people complain about Mk1 brakes when the brake fluid has not been change for years or the rears adjusted.  Flush them through with new fluid and adjust the rears and you'll see no end of difference.

Cheers

Rich

cheers boys! just spotted rear beam with drums on ebay, think il just keep it the way it was made!! does anywhere still sell mk1 drums?

Many people complain about Mk1 brakes when the brake fluid has not been change for years or the rears adjusted

very very true!! my pedal was absolutly crap, pedal was well at the floore, i decided to strip down and investigate last night, adjusted my shoes up, flushed the entire system and bleed it up, and its AMAZING!! pedal is rock hard, and in my opinon i have used to drive a 106 1992 andf a escort  ops:  and my golf thats ten years older then the peugeot, and escort it stops a hell of alot better and faster, amazing!

just keep it the way its made, adjust them up and flush it all out n get rid of air,

simon

you can get mk1/2 drums from any car spares centre.

I renewed my entire brake system with original new parts and I have a hard pedal and the car brakes fine, only the front wheels lock up quite fast…. its better now i fitted new tires with softer rubber.

One I thing I dont get after reading some replies, is how can one adjust the brakes?? On both my mk1 golfs the drums are self adjusting!
To remove the drum you depress the lever in the drum through the rubber grommet at the back and when everything is put back together you press the pedal firmly ones and the drums are automatically adjusted

greets yal

The german geezers at VW spent alot of time and money designing the braking system on the golfs and the rear drum was fine,rear brakes do very little as regarding the stopping,the front do 85% or more of the work and like others have said the rear of a mk1 is too light to alter the braking ratio,you will find the rear end will lock up  and can be dangerous,i know of a mk1 which this happened,the car was scrapped it was so badly twisted!!
bert

Just put big drums off a '94 passat estate on mine.

Dead easy swap and stopping power is too much at the moment. Locks up the rears way to early. This can be altered however, by experimenting with either a Gti wheel cylinder or a small block wheel cylinder - The internal sizes of the hydraulic piston are different, equating to more/less pressure being applied!

In my opinion, not worth adding discs!

Al you should be looking for some device to limit rear end braking …This could be dangerous with out it . Under heavy braking rears will lock and the vehicle will be unstable . I have just replaced my rear end brake pressure regulator valve for this very reason [it was faulty].

I think you can buy aftermarket adjustable ones from Rally supplies etc.

Cheers……….

I`ve had discs on the rear of my mk1 for over a year now…

 and i wished i hadn`t bothered to be fair! It`s been nothing but grief, since the day i swopt over. The handbrake has been tempramental at best, and i`ve gone through 2 calipers as they seize all the time.

 I`m giving it one last chance… and if it`s no better..it`s back to drums for me  :evil:

chudd said

Al you should be looking for some device to limit rear end braking …This could be dangerous with out it . Under heavy braking rears will lock and the vehicle will be unstable . I have just replaced my rear end brake pressure regulator valve for this very reason [it was faulty].

I think you can buy aftermarket adjustable ones from Rally supplies etc.

Cheers……….

Yeah - I know…

I was looking at puttin some bias adjusters in to add to the motorsport theme, but at ?45 a pop (I'd need 2) plus re-plumbing the rear brake lines so that they enter the cockpit, it would be quite expensive!

I will swap the rear cylinders over when I get a chance. That way, I'll be running with the original pressure on the rear end.

well im definately keepin drums sounds to me like discs are too tempremental! up front is there a tried and tested disc and pad set up that offer good improvements? cheers lads

I wouldn't bother with bigger discs… more hassle than they are worth unless you have silly power!

I have Zimmermann drilled discs and Pagid Fast Road Pads and they are very good. Don't really need to be warmed up much like people say and bite really well. Not had any fade yet!

Grooved discs make a horrid "GRRRRRR" sound under hard braking and tend to wear the pads quicker too producing LOADS of break dust, though EBC green stuff pads are supposed to be good for minimal dust.

Piece of advice peeps…

 If you do opt for rear discs, amke sure you get mk3 calipers - as these are a lot less prone to seizing unlike the mk2 ones i`ve had on.

 So i`ll see how these mk3`s go then….  :roll:

I hope they're off a later mk3 as the early one seize up too, my newly bought series 2 has a disc setup on the back and I must say they're excellent compaired to my series 1 and the series 1 has got new everything but they are still rubbish - passes the mot every time on brake performance thou' :dontknow: