MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: H4MXU on April 16, 2019, 10:22:05 pm

Title: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: H4MXU on April 16, 2019, 10:22:05 pm
I’ve asked something similar before but got mixed answers so I’m still not sure.

Need to upgrade stock brakes all around on my MK5 GTI and thought to go for EBC Yellowstuff discs and pads. What’s your experience of these? Do you recommend anything else? I’m happy to pay c. £400. In my previous post someone said go for MK7 Performance Pack brakes or MK7 R brakes. Another suggested to keep stock discs and get Mintex pads.

Also new to all this so are there different MM size for pads/discs? If so, how can I find out which I need? And what’s the best type of disc? Slotted, grooved etc.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.


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Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: mcblfc88 on April 17, 2019, 09:49:42 am
When the discs and pads on the front of my car are due for replacement i'll be going to Mk5 R32 front brake setup.

I've found a place that offers a full upgrade kit including totally refurbished calipers, ferodo pads, 345mm discs and HEL braided hoses for under £500 which I believe is a decent price although if someone can advice where I can get the same result cheaper i'd happily listen.

I'm intrigued by the Mk7 performance brake upgrade, in terms of cost and stopping power vs Mk5 R32
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: H4MXU on April 17, 2019, 10:05:36 am
When the discs and pads on the front of my car are due for replacement i'll be going to Mk5 R32 front brake setup.

I've found a place that offers a full upgrade kit including totally refurbished calipers, ferodo pads, 345mm discs and HEL braided hoses for under £500 which I believe is a decent price although if someone can advice where I can get the same result cheaper i'd happily listen.

I'm intrigued by the Mk7 performance brake upgrade, in terms of cost and stopping power vs Mk5 R32
That’s sounds like a pretty good deal. Would you mind telling me the name of the place?


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Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: mcblfc88 on April 17, 2019, 11:37:42 am
When the discs and pads on the front of my car are due for replacement i'll be going to Mk5 R32 front brake setup.

I've found a place that offers a full upgrade kit including totally refurbished calipers, ferodo pads, 345mm discs and HEL braided hoses for under £500 which I believe is a decent price although if someone can advice where I can get the same result cheaper i'd happily listen.

I'm intrigued by the Mk7 performance brake upgrade, in terms of cost and stopping power vs Mk5 R32
That’s sounds like a pretty good deal. Would you mind telling me the name of the place?


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No problem, link:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seat-Leon-Cupra-Mk2-345-Mm-Front-Brake-Calipers-Carriers-R32-S3/113588626653?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

I figure a good set of front discs and pads for the standard GTI brake setup is going to be £200+, I also think you'd get £100 for a pair of good condition gti front calipers.. so all in all not an over the top upgrade, what i've read suggests for fast road use the R32/S3 front setup is more than adequate and a good budget friendly upgrade over standard.
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: pudding on April 17, 2019, 11:48:45 am
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: mcblfc88 on April 17, 2019, 01:00:38 pm
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.

Whats the going rate of a Mk7 R upgrade kit? in comparison to circa. £500 for MK5 R32?
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: PatchySan on April 17, 2019, 01:09:17 pm
I have NQSBBK Porsche Boxster 986 4 piston calipers + GTI Brembo Max discs on my GTI. Great bit of kit as it blends good stopping power without breaking the bank (I managed to get my setup for around £500-ish overall), plus consumables such as the discs and pads are still relatively affordable to replace compared to most BBKs. The Porsche calipers are also much lighter than the stock iron cast GTI brakes which is good for weight saving!

As well as using it as a daily (saved my bacon a couple of times when some people just pull out of junctions without looking! :fighting:) it also survived a track day at the Nurburgring just fine! By far my favourite mod to date on the GTI.


Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: OllieL on April 17, 2019, 10:49:58 pm
I have a set of S3 brakes (same as r32) than I’ll be selling shortly from my old car.

I currently have mk7 R brakes on the front of my GTI, and I think they are pretty similar in terms of overall stopping.

However I do think the MK7 brakes are a little bit better at modulating their braking power (when jumping in mine after driving my fiancées car which is fitted with s3 brakes).

Don’t think you’ll go wrong with either from my experience of these brake upgrades.

Def saved me a few times, especially on the motorway in my old TDI
DSG

Ollie


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Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: pudding on April 18, 2019, 02:36:14 pm
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.

Whats the going rate of a Mk7 R upgrade kit? in comparison to circa. £500 for MK5 R32?

Not sure, probably around the same.   

I bought my stuff new.  I don't like second hand brakes or engines as you don't know what abuse they received from previous owners.

Brand new Cupra R 280 (same as 7R/S3/PP) calipers & carriers with pads from ebay for £350, then just added genuine Clubsport S 2 piece discs to that, which were another £300 iirc.  Not a cheap option, but a very effective one, and all OEM for reliability, fit and finish and life span.
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: Lewo on April 19, 2019, 09:13:02 am
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.

Puddng, any more info on why the yellow spot = crap?
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: H4MXU on April 19, 2019, 09:14:40 am
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.

Puddng, any more info on why the yellow spot = crap?
Yeah, I’d like to know this too.


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Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: david25 on April 19, 2019, 09:16:29 am
Is there any problem with brake balance if you install upgrades on the front (MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R / MK5 R32) and leave the rears as standard?
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: H4MXU on April 19, 2019, 09:19:23 am
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.
I’m getting used MK7 R Brake Caliper Kit front and rear for £300. Do you think that’s a good deal?


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Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: pudding on April 19, 2019, 12:36:38 pm
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.

Puddng, any more info on why the yellow spot = crap?

They are a track pad and need a lot of heat to get good bite, and even then it's average compared to better brand pads.  Their initial bite when cold is terrible.  Easily the worst track/fast road pad I've ever used.  EBC stuff is cheap for a reason  :smiley:
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: pudding on April 19, 2019, 12:37:50 pm
Is there any problem with brake balance if you install upgrades on the front (MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R / MK5 R32) and leave the rears as standard?

Nope.  The MK7 brakes fix the standard front brakes' main problem.......fade!   The rears work well and don't need messing with, but some people like to uprate those as well.
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: Stig_gti on April 19, 2019, 09:40:58 pm
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.
I’m getting used MK7 R Brake Caliper Kit front and rear for £300. Do you think that’s a good deal?


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Rear mk7 r calipers have electric handbrake so won’t fit mk5.
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: H4MXU on April 20, 2019, 05:10:14 am
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.
I’m getting used MK7 R Brake Caliper Kit front and rear for £300. Do you think that’s a good deal?


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Rear mk7 r calipers have electric handbrake so won’t fit mk5.
Ahh right. Thanks for letting me know.


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Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: Lewo on April 23, 2019, 11:29:28 pm
Yellow stuff = crap.

MK7 Performance Pack/Cupra R/MK7 R = great.

MK5 R32 = effective, but effin' heavy.

Puddng, any more info on why the yellow spot = crap?

They are a track pad and need a lot of heat to get good bite, and even then it's average compared to better brand pads.  Their initial bite when cold is terrible.  Easily the worst track/fast road pad I've ever used.  EBC stuff is cheap for a reason  :smiley:

Ah right ok then. I've got green spot pads at the mo and for everyday driving I definitely find them better than the standard pads that were fitted but......if driving in a spirited manner and use the brakes heavily they do fade.
Think I've read somewhere about trying different brake fluid and better pads before spending out on another brake system, has anyone done that with success?
That's why I was thinking about yellow spots but happy to hear what other pads are recommended.
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: colesey on April 24, 2019, 06:17:17 am
I have tried Red Stuff pads upon the recommendation of RacingLine and they have good bite with some heat in them and are both quiet and dust free. They do however feel numb and soft in traffic when cold and I replaced them with Endless MX72 (plus bronze bushes / steel hoses) as per the article below. I can’t sing the praises of these pads highly enough - they really are leagues ahead and superb for road use but not too expensive if bought from Japan (Nengun).

www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167216

Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: terrier on April 24, 2019, 08:47:30 am
I have NQSBBK Porsche Boxster 986 4 piston calipers + GTI Brembo Max discs on my GTI. Great bit of kit as it blends good stopping power without breaking the bank (I managed to get my setup for around £500-ish overall), plus consumables such as the discs and pads are still relatively affordable to replace compared to most BBKs. The Porsche calipers are also much lighter than the stock iron cast GTI brakes which is good for weight saving!

As well as using it as a daily (saved my bacon a couple of times when some people just pull out of junctions without looking! :fighting:) it also survived a track day at the Nurburgring just fine! By far my favourite mod to date on the GTI.
I have the same calipers with the drilled Brembo discs and yellow ebc pads. The pads/disc combination is rubbish even when compared to the previous fitted pagid ones. Perhaps a set of Brembo pads will help
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: pudding on April 25, 2019, 05:31:20 pm
It all comes back down to the trusty MK7 upgrade.  By the time you've wasted money on rubbish pads and discs, you're some way into the price of that setup  :smiley:
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: Shoduchi on April 25, 2019, 06:08:35 pm
It all comes back down to the trusty MK7 upgrade.  By the time you've wasted money on rubbish pads and discs, you're some way into the price of that setup  :smiley:

Easiest upgrade and enough for fast road use for most people. :smiley:
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: PatchySan on April 25, 2019, 06:55:36 pm
I have the same calipers with the drilled Brembo discs and yellow ebc pads. The pads/disc combination is rubbish even when compared to the previous fitted pagid ones. Perhaps a set of Brembo pads will help

I'm using Brembo Pads with my slotted Brembo discs and they are fine. For me the Yellows are not designed for normal daily driving as most of the time you're not going to be driving aggressively enough to get it up to optimal temps. Before my NQSBBK I had Yellows fitted on by the previous owner and they are very skittish in the cold and wet which does not inspire confidence, needless to say I quickly binned them even though it had a good chuck of pad left!
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: lloydy88 on April 26, 2019, 02:40:19 pm
So the mk7 front break upgrade can be bought as a package? Discs, calipers, hoses etc!? And is a direct bolt on replacement with no mods needed?
Title: Re: MK5 GTI brakes upgrade from stock
Post by: pudding on April 26, 2019, 04:37:04 pm
https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,108106.0.html