MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => How to Guides / Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Oli on January 12, 2010, 11:24:33 pm

Title: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: Oli on January 12, 2010, 11:24:33 pm
Hopefully fitting mine tomorrow, and whilst trawling for information, I found this useful link;

http://www.tyrolsport.com/index.php?p=page&page_id=performance_tech&pg=techstep-big-brake-mk5

Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: RedRobin on January 13, 2010, 12:11:32 am
^^^^
Excellent find, Oli  :happy2:

So will you be fitting a TyrolSport caliper stiffening kit?
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: SKAVIA on January 13, 2010, 09:06:47 am
Hopefully fitting mine tomorrow, and whilst trawling for information, I found this useful link;

http://www.tyrolsport.com/index.php?p=page&page_id=performance_tech&pg=techstep-big-brake-mk5



Cheers Oli!  :drinking:
I've got a full set of S3 brakes to get fitted (front and rear) so this will prove invaluable!
Are you going to DIY? What brake fluid you going for? Id it worth upgrading the brake lines as I've heard the OEM ones are braided (internally) anyway?

 :happy2:
Sanjay
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: Oli on January 13, 2010, 09:47:25 am
One of my technicians will be doing it, but I will now only photograph the rear procedure, as the front have been done for us.  I am using standard hoses and VW brake fluid.  Hopefully tonight

Watch this space
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: paulk on January 13, 2010, 11:59:31 am
theres a full set of r32 brakes on ebay 325
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: john_o on January 19, 2010, 01:17:28 pm
nice find :happy2:

http://www.tyrolsport.com/index.php?p=product&id=205&parent=64
http://www.tyrolsport.com/product_inst/TyrolSport%20Brake%20Caliper%20Bushings%20Theory%20and%20Testing1.pdf

I too wanted to know about the 'stiffening kit' ?
looks good but states off road use only in the fitting instructions lol

DaveB will hopefully provide comment soon  :happy2:
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: DaveB@Vagbremtechnic on January 19, 2010, 03:09:09 pm
I've had a little bit of experience of these, theres a few gotchas with them and its fair to say that its very much a fair weather mod.

I fitted them personally to a set of R32 brakes on my Mk4 with no appreciable difference in fairness, you have to realise that you will need to have them inspected every 6 months or so.

The R32 calipers on the Mk5 have a reinforced bushing anyway so its not as much of a requirement as you might expect, if you ever rip out one of the bushings in the caliper then there is a white plastic insert to stiffen them up.

I ended up using one per caliper on the top bushing and sold the other half to somebody else.

You'll get better performance from some decent pads or if like the S3/R32 brakes they aren't available then just put the money into the tin on the dresser and save for some four pots.

The S3/R32 setup is what it is, theres not really much you can do to increase its performance, Its £400 quids worth of improvement for £400 if you get my drift so therefore good value - if you bolt the VWR kit to your car you wont get 1800 quids worth of extra braking.

For the £100 I spent on getting the tyrol kit here,  I think next time it would be hoses and pads for me.

Just my £0.02 's worth!
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: RedRobin on January 19, 2010, 03:27:30 pm
....

I had a chat with Pete Collen on the AP Racing stand at the Autosport show on Sunday and asked him what he thought of the idea of fitting oem S3 rear brakes to my car (knowing I've got AP fronts as he fitted them). He asked me to remind him whether I had 4 or 6-pots and also what the discs were and when I said 4-pot and the discs were vented he smiled broadly and said they'd be excellent and that venting was far more important than drilled or grooved for my car.

AP are now producing their own range of pads exclusively for their brake kits.
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: john_o on January 19, 2010, 04:06:55 pm
interesting Dave thanks  :happy2:
I'll await the refund then on the difference mine cost from 400 notes  :signLOL:

(you too RR  :wink:)
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: QD MBE on January 19, 2010, 05:30:11 pm
....

I had a chat with Pete Collen on the AP Racing stand at the Autosport show on Sunday and asked him what he thought of the idea of fitting oem S3 rear brakes to my car (knowing I've got AP fronts as he fitted them). He asked me to remind him whether I had 4 or 6-pots and also what the discs were and when I said 4-pot and the discs were vented he smiled broadly and said they'd be excellent and that venting was far more important than drilled or grooved for my car.

AP are now producing their own range of pads exclusively for their brake kits.

RR this is not a dig, just trying to clarify.  I thought you had earlier said that AP (as in Pete C) had said he did not think it was worth you fitting S3 rears? or am I getting confused here.
 :rolleye:
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: RedRobin on February 13, 2010, 11:00:01 am
....

I had a chat with Pete Collen on the AP Racing stand at the Autosport show on Sunday and asked him what he thought of the idea of fitting oem S3 rear brakes to my car (knowing I've got AP fronts as he fitted them). He asked me to remind him whether I had 4 or 6-pots and also what the discs were and when I said 4-pot and the discs were vented he smiled broadly and said they'd be excellent and that venting was far more important than drilled or grooved for my car.

AP are now producing their own range of pads exclusively for their brake kits.

RR this is not a dig, just trying to clarify.  I thought you had earlier said that AP (as in Pete C) had said he did not think it was worth you fitting S3 rears? or am I getting confused here.
 :rolleye:


....Hi stokey :happy2:

Only just seen this thread again - My S3 rears are being fitted on Tuesday, all being well.

AP (Pete C) had told me that it was overkill for my road use (back in 2006) to have AP rear brakes. A few months ago in a chat, he suggested that just changing the pads to my oem rears would be a good step and to go further might not be necessary. However, more recently he advised that the S3 rears would be good essentially because they are ventilated. He was very definite in saying that ventilation was important if I was doing trackdays or the 'Ring.
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: keith on February 13, 2010, 02:57:34 pm
Can anyone advise how to remove the retaining clip from the front of the calipers, mine are proving to be a mare!
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: QD MBE on February 13, 2010, 05:51:39 pm
Can anyone advise how to remove the retaining clip from the front of the calipers, mine are proving to be a mare!

Screwdriver under the centre of the big leaf spring, and lever it out, and hold an old rag over the area, or you will stand a chance of getting the spring in the eye.

Or it will F off into next doors garden..............................
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: keith on February 13, 2010, 07:27:27 pm
 :happy2: Thanks, you weren't joking about it flying out bloomin dangerous :scared:.
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: SKAVIA on February 14, 2010, 08:44:31 pm
One of my technicians will be doing it, but I will now only photograph the rear procedure, as the front have been done for us.  I am using standard hoses and VW brake fluid.  Hopefully tonight

Watch this space

Oli - have you fitted your rear brakes yet?
Did you take pics and do a write up as promised?  :happy2:
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: Oli on February 14, 2010, 10:39:24 pm
Yes, no and no!!  I wasn't there when they were fitted! 

Hardly been using the golf recently though as I'm have too much fun in the T5 Kombi!!!  Probably done 200 miles max since the brakes were done, but very impressive already.
Title: Re: How to fit R32/S3 front brakes.
Post by: SKAVIA on February 15, 2010, 10:49:48 pm
 :grin:
Can I ask how much they charged (or any garage should charge) to fit as I don't reckon I will be able to do mine alone?  :ashamed: