Yo guys, my brakes are in need of some TLC me thinks. I'm going to (when I have the cash) replaced my discs and pads, as they haven't been changed for about 5 years (I found the previous owners records =D). I've seen these on ebay, can you guys advise as to whether there any good?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRILLED-GROOV...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4cea251cee
This kit includes 2 discs and 4 pads.

If not, can anyone advise me to something similar with a similar/smaller price tag? Thankyou all :slayer:

How do you know for sure that you need new discs and pads? No point spending money you don't have to. Borrow a vernier caliper to measure disc thickness and measure the pad thickness with a ruler. The pads should have a strip of metal that contacts the disc and makes a horrible screech when the pads are low.

Also, with regard to your choice of discs, I would avoid drilled or grooved discs since they accelerate pad wear and induce extra vibration. Drilled should especially be avoided since the holes can be a source of cracking. They are intended for track use where either you or your pit team inspect them regularly, not for road use.

I have priced up the parts on Shop4Parts for you and that comes to £48.33 including VAT and delivery. And don't forget your Fiat Forum discount if you are a donated member. I think it is 10% these days.

Jesus no! Standard discs are £10 each
Pads are around £15 for all 4 fronts!

Cheers for the advice. So don't bother with drilled/grooved/dimpled discs? I think they need to be done as I was checking them over the other day and the disc do seem to be fairly thin. I know what new ones look like so I think they could do with replacing, but I will measure before hand. On top of this I'm going to bleed the brake system and put some fresh fluid in.

Chow guys.

You could get the standard discs plated so they don't rapidly go tatty.

Drilled and grooved discs are ok as long as they were built to be drilled and grooved e.g. Brembos. Taking a Black & Decker to standard iron discs is NOT a good idea.

Ciao, Bella

Is that the only way to stop them rusting, I wish I had read about it before replacing mine couple of months back, rusty as anything already and looks a mess

Yeah I've noticed that some of them come plated which is meant to prevent rust. Mine were a total mess when I have a look at them in regards to rust, so gave them a good wire brush down (wire-brush drill bit ftw =D) and painted them red.

Well I say 'them', I've only got round to doing one so far. Anyway thanks for the advise. I would like drilled/grooved ones over standard ones, but don't think I can quite afford Brembo at this moment in time.

bredsticz said:

Is that the only way to stop them rusting, I wish I had read about it before replacing mine couple of months back, rusty as anything already and looks a mess

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I did just the same and mine look crappy. I guess they could be stove enamelled - not on the pad contact of course. or a metal platers could zinc plate the discs. Stove is easily masked off. I dont know how they would avoid plating the brake working areas.

I guess that you have to use the discs a little to work out exactly where the pads contact, then mask that area off and apply whatever anti-corrosion finish you require. It's got to be a pretty flexible material since heat-cycling in discs must be huge.

As for plating, I think the whole disc can be plated before fitting since zinc won't contaminate the pads as it cuts through to the iron.

I'm not so sure, zinc might be too soft and clog up the brake pad surface.

For sure motorbike discs are plated with nickel (or made from stainless). They are always drilled and sometimes slotted and no worries about cracks.