Technical New Front Discs and Pads

[LeanMeanRacing]

At 73,550 miles the original front discs have been replaced and a second set of pads fitted. Having looked around, I ended up buying Pagid discs and pads from www.eurocarparts.com for £100 inc. vat and delivery.

Original discs:


New discs:

 

[306maxi]

Obviously don't know how much you paid for the discs but Brembo discs are very reasonably priced if you want some more in the future http://www.bremboshop.co.uk/default.php?car_type=578&search=property&marque=67&model=578&x=13&y=9

 

[LeanMeanRacing]

Thanks for that - I still have the link bookmarked from when you suggested them before

Brembo were the same price but couldn't supply the pads - so it was easier to place a single order.

 

[doctorchris]

OK, answer this;
1. How did you get front discs to last 73,550 miles, don't your pupils use the brakes? The discs on my Panda 4x4 Climbing were worn below the wear limit at 24,000 miles!
2. How come there's so little rust on those old discs? Has it stopped raining there in Birmingham since I lived there in the late 70's, or can the local authority no longer afford to grit the roads?

 

[trackdayqueen]

OK, answer this;
1. How did you get front discs to last 73,550 miles, don't your pupils use the brakes? The discs on my Panda 4x4 Climbing were worn below the wear limit at 24,000 miles!
2. How come there's so little rust on those old discs? Has it stopped raining there in Birmingham since I lived there in the late 70's, or can the local authority no longer afford to grit the roads?

You won't have any rust on the discs if you drive the car and use the brakes.

I expect most of the learners are braking pretty gently rather than charging up to roundabouts and slamming the brakes on as an example.

 

[Peter D]

I must admit I'm tempted to replace my discs and pads - would the replacement discs such as Brembo be of better quality? The hubs are very rusty.

Peter

 

[trackdayqueen]

I must admit I'm tempted to replace my discs and pads - would the replacement discs such as Brembo be of better quality? The hubs are very rusty.

Peter

Realistically unless your current discs are badly grooved and worn down, replacing them with the Brembo discs won't improve your braking to any significant extent. So not really worth it.

Rusty hubs really do not matter.

 

[LeanMeanRacing]

OK, answer this;
1. How did you get front discs to last 73,550 miles, don't your pupils use the brakes? The discs on my Panda 4x4 Climbing were worn below the wear limit at 24,000 miles!
2. How come there's so little rust on those old discs? Has it stopped raining there in Birmingham since I lived there in the late 70's, or can the local authority no longer afford to grit the roads?

I think that Lauren has answered your questions already. Students do not brake hard - good forward planning avoids them having to do so! The only time that the brakes get used in anger is for emergency stops. By comparison, my Fiesta Zetec-S passed an MOT at 115k on the original discs!

......and anyway, with an underpowered car, braking is the last thing you want to do!

As for the disc bell not being rusty, I think that it's that way because the car is in constant use.

The best discs and pads I ever fitted to my ITR track car were Pagid [although they were £130 for each], so I think that the quality is there.

 

[W23AJH 100HP]

Can you get different calipers as well as I think a set of brembo front calipers would look pretty nice. Also a bit off topic but I like your abarth badges under your indicators.

 

[trackdayqueen]

Can you get different calipers as well as I think a set of brembo front calipers would look pretty nice. Also a bit off topic but I like your abarth badges under your indicators.

Well you probably could, but you have to ask yourself, what's the point?

 

[306maxi]

Can you get different calipers as well as I think a set of brembo front calipers would look pretty nice. Also a bit off topic but I like your abarth badges under your indicators.

The brembo GT set for the 500 would probably fit but like Lauren says, what's the point? Plus you probably need at least 16" or 17" wheels.

 

[jimboy]

Sound advice given already. There are one or two things to take in account when buying pads & discs. Do you have ABS & you could have the best set up but let down by your tyres. Are you a fast driver & use your brakes often & hard. Obviously in your case standard pads & discs will be fine. Inspecting the system & changing the brake fluid is always a wise move also.

 

[LeanMeanRacing]

Also a bit off topic but I like your abarth badges under your indicators.

Thanks for that - I don't know why Fiat chose to place them on the rear three-quarter panel on the 500 Abarth?

 

[W23AJH 100HP]

Thanks for that - I don't know why Fiat chose to place them on the rear three-quarter panel on the 500 Abarth?

Yes I have always looked at that and thought it was a bit odd.

 

[Dan Friel]

What's the least amount of miles that anyone's done on the original pads? I've got a very good deal of discs and pads, so just need to justify the cost!