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brake upgrades

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Im looking into what brake upgrades are possible without breaking the bank.

I know you can go bigger discs and calipers which i will be but wanted to know… other than changing the existing brake master cylinder for a mk2 16v one, is there any way of just ditching that horrible bar running across the engine bay and simply fitting a smaller and newer master cylinder from a more modern car directly infront of the driver?

I have seen someone fit a mk1 ford focus MC to a mk2 golf and it looked so much better, i just wanted to know if something similar would be doable in a mk1 without loads of fabrication time needed to get it to work.

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From what I have heard was that the Scirocco Rear Disk brakes are a good thing, (just be sure to get correct parking brake cables) and  to Lube the parking brake mech at the rear, as they tend to lock up….

I never understood the Rube Goldberg setup of the RHD VW's …. My Old Bugeye, and Midget was easy to swap between LHD and RHD.  Save for the part that the clutch/brake shared the same RES….


Just be sure that you get the NON-ABS 22mm Master.
(corrado, and golf).

You can do vented rotors for the front, but your pads between solid rotors and vented are different.  Vented rotors fit solid rotors, but solid rotor pads don't fit Vented rotors…   

Go Ceramic pads and they are higher grade, dustless to a point, and take heat well as there is a loss of heat fade.
 

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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I'm not after anything racing spec… just wondering if there was an alternative to having a honking great servo.

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Depending how far you want to go, you can buy parts that do away with the linkage/servo etc (but it is racing spec originally) and have the master cylinders inside the car. You could then fit a remote servo in a different location if you thought the brake pedal was too hard without one..

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If the brake fluid is more than 3 years old, new fluid makes alot of difference and braided brake hoses help make the pedal feel harder, Adjusting up the automatic adjuster on the rear drums also makes alot of difference  to the feel of the brakes.

Mk1 Golf brakes will never feel as positive as newer cars brakes with ABS as they over servo them and the ABS stops you locking up the front wheels when you press them to hard, the last thing you want is the wheels to lock up when braking as it takes longer to stop a car and you can't steer the car when its wheels are not turning….
 

Last edit: by mark1gls


1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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Sounds like a plan. I think I might go for the racing parts option. Not that it'll be used on a track much just wanted a tidyer engine bay with less … I'm know that modern cars have better braking systems I was just trying to find out if anyone has used some as a conversion.

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SamGti said

I'm know that modern cars have better braking systems I was just trying to find out if anyone has used some as a conversion.

I don't know about that I have seen a lot of rear end collisions caused by the ABS, when abs was new and folks had to get used to the "it isn't braking" routine….

I am not saying that it isn't better now, as in steering straight when slamming on brakes, but you can't really lock them up as you used to….. Better? that is a subjective question as the more components that you have in a system the more likely they are to fail…..

The only electric parts I want in a brake system is a Fluid level detector/pressure drop, and rear brake lights.

Yeah I am old school, I learned Calculus and Electronics on a Slide rule….

Newer as in Brake Pad composition yes….


What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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I think I should have said more efficient brakes than the used to over the whole car. and dont get me wrong i love old school hence the reason for the mk1 in the first place, just wanted to find out if I could remove the massive servo.
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