Golf diesel brake upgrade

Hi guys I'm looking at upgrading my front brakes on the golf, it's a 1983 diesel 
I would like some stopping power as I'm looking at using the car as my daily in summer to work.👍🏻

Can anybody point me in the right direction, I would like Vw parts (if anybody selling a full set and servo etc I would be interested at the right price ideally I would like just to be able unbolt the old and bolt up a complete new set.
I don't really get much time to spend searching so looking for a simple quick fix.
Thanks for any help in advance
Baz🤙🏻

It's a 55hp 700kg car. The standard brakes in good working order will be more than adequate.

I suspect the near 40yr old setup is worn or siezed or out of adjustment. Replacing consumables (inc rear cylinders which will prob be seized or leaking), bleeding and adjusting the rear 'self' adjusters will transform what you already have.   

I ran a 81 diesel for 20 years.  I only used the standard brakes, but….. after about 10 years running I lost the MC.

While I had the MC out, I decided to also replace the Rotors, Rebuild the Calipers, replace the rear wheel cyls bearings Drums, shoes, pads and rear e- brake cables.  Back then I thunked I spent a whopping 100 USD in parts.

If you maintain the car you will find the brakes when reworked more than adequate.

I would strongly suggest just rebuilding what you have.
You don't need to upgrade, just refresh.

I would also suspect that your Vacuum Pump could probably use a refresh as if your braking seems to be less than it should the Vac pump probably is holed. I had to rebuild mine twice in 20 years.


There were 2 types of Vacuum pumps used.  The Original one was a Diaphragm device, the latter years 82.5 and up over here switched to a Vane Type pump.

Oem diaphragm type



newer rotary style


The vane type usually doesn't ever need a rebuild, however the older style usually does.
The kit looks like:

Thanks guys for the advice, the car had a full resto 4years back now,and brakes all overhauled then, don't get me wrong they are not so Fred flint stone any more but just want a more secure stop 🛑 ✋🏻  Without the pressure on the pedal.especially with today's drivers!!! I only work now 5miles from my home and it feels like a wacky races on some days! 

I do have plans for an engine upgrade to at some point in the near future if I can find the right garage at the right price (130pd diesel) 👍🏻
 So just looking to upgrade as I go along really,hence the bigger brakes and servo idea.🤙🏻

Seems a shame to convert an already restored original. But each to their own.

Sounds like your Vacuum Pump is iffy.
As that is the only indication on a non-a/c car that it is bad.  On a/c equipped cars, the servos that operated the flappers would stop working along with the power assist on the brakes which is how I knew that my vacuum pump was defunct and in need of a rebuild.


I would also suggest that your system after 4 years needs to have the fluid exchanged, and bleed.

I drove my 81 as a work car in and around Central Illinois USA Between Peoria/Vandailia/Quincey/Danville a good slice of the center of the State including the Capital Rush hours, Lunch hours and Crazy Snowy Rainy weather , putting on it between 400-1000 miles per week. with about 300 lbs of repair parts in the boot. I never thought that the brakes were soft and wouldn't stop my ride.  I was also rocking good Michelin  all weather Tires.
Before I left the job, I was running between St.Louis to Chicago working at the Federal Reserve Banks… Now towards the end of the ownership 1986-2000 I was Driving in Atlanta traffic, and I never thought that my brakes needed attending and Atlanta Driving is very similar to the Leman's 24 hour but more congested.


Now on my Cabriolets, (new to me) that was a horse of a different color as it was a new to me car, and well I rebuild everything calipers/wheel cylinders/rubber hoses to Stainless Steel Teflon hoses, drums, rotors, pads, to higher end Ceramic pads and went from sponginess to rock hard pedal.

Upgrade on a 84, I would look to the Scirocco or possibly the Cabriolet, but there are Differences and usually a rerouting and replacement of hard lines that attach to the MC and different proportional valves.  You could also look at the 83 GTI Braking system but then again, you are looking at possibly a new plumbing job as well.  If the refresh didn't include hoses as in the rubber bits, I would look at upgrading those as well to the newer SS jacketed ones as they don't balloon when pressure is applied, and that you get a more positive feel and usually higher pressures in the system, Higher pressures means more force on the pistons and wheel cylinders.