Front brake upgrade options ?

I used to have a Fabia VRS and we used to buy a Octavia VRS carrier that was a direct fit ontop the Fabia Caliper and it went from 288 to 312.
so we can do the same?
 
Yes it should be same. Theres a lot threads for 288 to 312 upgrade for Polo/Fabia platform which is same as A2 (PQ29). But I think 312mm will be overkill for light A2.
 
Since these caliper fits on MK3 Golf platform, the Mk3 (and Mk2 golf) calipers will fit to Mk4 Golf platform and PQ29 platform:
Screenshot from 2023-01-08 19-55-12 (1).png
...




So there is another option (maybe lighter caliper) and 280mm 5x100 rotor. Girling/Lucas 54 caliper and carier:
Girling54.jpg

Giling54.jpg



I had couple of upgrades with these back in time and I think they are very good. There are two versions, for 256 and 280mm rotor:
HPIM4443.JPG

The bigger one is 280mm and it uses ticker pad, it was used on G60 Golf, Corrado and Passat.

256mm:
HPIM4470.JPG

The biggest diference comparing to Mk4 caliper (8N0-615-124) is that slide pins goes metal on metal, protected with rubber boot around. Never had a problem with that more than 10 years. Like that, caliper has less play in carier and pad wear is more even.
Rotor for 280mm setup:
Screenshot from 2023-10-19 03-44-46.png

The benefit of 280mm setup is probably only less weight than 288mm. Parts availability could be a problem. And last but not least, all this is just a theory, but Ill eat my shoe if this does not work.
 
288mm Brembos and lightweight Willwood 4 pot calipers, not cheap but sweeet!

George
 

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Does anyone know of any two pot calipers from the VAG range that fit. The Willwoods are awesome but a tad expensive. Very powerful but very sensitive too.

George
 
I used to have a Fabia VRS and we used to buy a Octavia VRS carrier that was a direct fit ontop the Fabia Caliper and it went from 288 to 312.
so we can do the same?
On the A2 the key thing is getting the wheel bearing housing from the Polo GTI or similar enabling one to fit the removable carrier that in turn fits the ATE caliper suitable for 288 or 310/312mm discs. This opens up all sorts of early 00s A3/TT/Golf and similar calipers available cheaply to refurb to be fitted onto whichever bracket you have available for the appropriate disc size. The A2 original has the caliper mount cast into the wheel bearing housing and therefore it isn't just a case of fitting a new carrier bracket to fit the bigger calipers.

Compare part 7 (similar to A2 with integral caliper mount) with part 7A (replaceable carrier bracket version) in this diagram from Skoda's Fabia 7zap page (obviously similar on VW and Seat 7zap pages but I had this bookmarked) :


My next brake setup comprises L/R replaceable bracket bearing housings bought new online, a pair of cheap and very mucky TT calipers with brackets for 312mm that went away to BCS (Brake Caliper Specialists) to be stripped, cleaned, painted in standard gunmetal and rebuilt; new ABS sensors with stainless steel bolts to secure, new SKF bearings, braided HEL brake pipes, new pads and 312mm discs. Just a case of getting them built up and fitted at some point. The first setup I had like that work very nicely and not obviously heavier at the wheel.
 
Does anyone know of any two pot calipers from the VAG range that fit. The Willwoods are awesome but a tad expensive. Very powerful but very sensitive too.

George
What about calipers from the Seat Ibiza Cupra R from the mid 00s? Looking at the steering page for seat these use the same 6Q carrier-compatible bearing housing part number (7A) listed on the Polo GTI / Fabia VRS steering parts I linked to above.

see here :

and here :

Part number 6LL615105 / 6LL615106, described as AP Racing 4-pot calipers on 312mm discs, 5x100.

 
Interesting, thank you Robin. I do want to stick to 288mm discs. It might seem marginal but the 312mm are a good bit heavier. Twin pots are worth investigating though. Thank you.

George
 
The answer for me was 288mm Brembos and 4 pot Willwood calipers. I honestly can’t think of better front brakes for an A2, very sensitive, very powerful. Not cheap but absolutely excellent!
Wonderful brakes, mostly unecessary but wonderful, lighter than standard too!

George
 
The answer for me was 288mm Brembos and 4 pot Willwood calipers. I honestly can’t think of better front brakes for an A2, very sensitive, very powerful. Not cheap but absolutely excellent!
Wonderful brakes, mostly unecessary but wonderful, lighter than standard too!

George
Out of interest, what caliper model are they?
 
Hi Robin, they are Wildwood dynalite 4pots to fit Fabia VRs, steering knuckles changed to VRs to allow fitment of alternative calipers. Porche rear calipers can also be made to fit ie with adapters.


George
 

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Instead of 312x25mm 5/100, it's best to use the more modern 310x25mm 5/100 design. They are interchangeable.

The earlier 312x25mm design has a minimum thickness of 23mm, but the later 310x25mm design has a minimum thickness of 22mm meaning that you get 50% more wear from the later design before it needs replacing, ie. 3mm of wear with the newer design instead of only 2mm with the earlier design.

ATE don't even sell 312x25 5/100 front brake discs, only 310x25 5/100. So with ATE, even an old Golf MK4 would use the later 310x25mm 5/100 design.

The Audi A1 used the later 310x25mm 5/100 front brake discs from the very beginning in 2011 onwards.

Audi A1 (2011 onwards) 310x25mm 5/100 front brake discs
86R0615301BBrake disc (vented)310x25 5/100
 
Fair point. But on the other hand how often you change only pads? I have never. My discs usually rusts so bad so once it is time for new pads it doesn't make sense not to change discs as well ;)
 
Not all parts of Europe are that harsh to cars like UK, Ive seen cars from Verona with no rust at all at brake - suspension systems.
@carlston what is the pad thicknes difference?
 
@carlston what is the pad thickness difference?

The 312x25mm front brake discs can be used with the early or later type of ATE front brake calipers.

Most A2 owners probably use the early type of ATE front brake calipers when upgrading their front brakes to 312x25mm.

These early type of ATE front brake calipers for the 312x25mm front brake discs have commonly been referred to as Audi TT MK1 front brake calipers, but they were also used on other cars including Audi A3 MK1, Golf MK4, and Polo MK4 1.8 petrol 180HP.

VAG didn't start fitting the later type of ATE front brake calipers for the 312x25mm front brake discs until the Golf MK5 came out in 2003, and VAG didn't start fitting this later type to cars with 5/100 hubs such as the Audi A1 until 2011. So if you went back in time to 2000-2002 the later type wasn't available which perhaps makes fitting the early type more authentic, although the more powerful A2 engines, ie. 1.6FSI and 1.4TDI 90HP also weren't available when the A2 first came out. However, the Polo MK4 didn't use the later type but did use the early type with its 1.8 petrol 180HP engine. So again, another reason to use the early type.

Front brake pads for 256x22mm front brake discs (Audi A2, Polo MK4, etc.)
1708652959460.png


Front brake pads for early ATE front brake calipers that can be used with 312x25mm front brake discs (Audi TT MK1, Audi A3 MK1, Golf MK4, Polo MK4 1.8 petrol 180HP, etc.)
1708652794297.png


These early ATE front brake calipers for 312x25mm front brake discs can also be used with 288x25mm front brake discs, by simply changing the front brake discs and the front brake caliper carriers, ie. the calipers and pads are interchangeable between the 288x25mm and 312x25mm discs. These ATE brake caliper carriers are still available new...as shown in the links below.

Front brake caliper carrier for 288x25mm front brake discs (ATE early type) (notice the 54mm dimension)
1708708496035.png


Front brake caliper carrier for 312x25mm front brake discs (ATE early type) (notice the 66mm dimension, ie. a 312mm disc has a radius 12mm bigger than a 288mm disc...hence 66mm is 12mm bigger than 54mm)
1708708605826.png

 
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