Hi i was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction regarding Front brakes (not pads)

I have been searching on the forum regarding standard rims which is what im interested in, but the info is all over the place, and not all confirmed as working i.e alfa 166 discs
so for now forget the alfa v6 calipers and 330 discs etc.

i read about Alfa 166 discs somewhere but understand they need machining? are these worth the effort or should i just go for expensive pads if not upgrading to bigger brakes/wheels?

If somebody could clarify the best possible, that will fit under the standard rims, that would be fantastic!

I know there are loads of threads about pads so i dont feel we need to go down that path but for clarity im thinking of Pagid Blue!

If anybody has upgraded the discs to Alfa 166 or another solution that fits under the standard rims was it worth it?

Cheers Rich

If you take the calipers from the 166, the only advantage will be that the brake pistons are larger. The brake discs don't bring you much more advantage. What you can take is a grooved and drilled disc that would fit directly on the coupe and there you have youre advantage.

go for mtec drilled and grooved disc's as they are very good for the money and lots of members use them including myself so tryed and tested , £119 for front and rear delivered from ebay and should help with abit more bite with pagid blue pads . i would also change your brake fluid to say ATE super blue racing fluid around £10 for a 1ltr .

link to disc's -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Coupe-2-0...b#ht_1992wt_932

Cheers guys,
I have recently fitted the Grooved mtec discs on the front but just standard Brembo on the back just a few hundred miles on them really, would changing them to grooved and drilled make much difference? Front and/or rear? at the rate i use the car these will last a couple of years easy!
Cheers

What pads are you using and what brake fluid ?

Cheers Nismo, Pads are Pagid but i think they are just the general brand about £30
JBT changed the fluid when the Brake pipes were done im sure he said he stuck decent stuff in? i will ask him next week

I would say that my brakes are ok but i drive a Mitsubishi outlander as my work van and they just seem fantastic compared to the Coupe, i know they are probably over servo assisted but its a nice feeling (they are only twin pots), saying that i would like the brakes to be the best i can get, within reason, now im pushing more power
Cheers Rich

i have a seat cupra r with the same size brembo's as they coupe but everytime i drive the cupra i almost end up headbutting the windscreen as they 10 times better than the coupes brembo's and i think its down to the brake servo too . i just wish i could get them to be close to the cupra's but then i'm used to the coupes now .

Check my fronts they are drilled and grooved not just grooved,
think im starting to lose the plot!

I know you said not to talk about pads, but they will make much more difference than the discs. Standard, grooved or drilled discs are pretty similar in performance except the grooved ones are noisiest. I don't think that with the standard servo you will achieve that overservoed grabby feel, but if you really want it more like that , then put soft pads in. It'll feel sharper round town but will be useless at repeated high speed stops. BTW I use Pagid blues and like them but they're better when a bit warm - in this weather they're not impressive around town. Try Pagid black or OEM pads for more initial bite.

Is it feasible to change the servo for say, a Cupra one, would it fit in the location or is it too much hastle? I drive a Subaru with Alcon front callipers, I am surprised by how poor/weak the coupe brakes seem by comparison!

My impreza has 330mm wilwoods and they feel so much better pedal wise than the brembos on the coupe, infact I've never driven a brembo'd coupe that made me think it had good braking, IMO barely adequate as std, not bad with uprated pads but the brakes certainly are showing signs of being dated!

I have to disagree with some of the above - Coupe Brembos with uprated pads and discs are more than up to the job - fade-free from well over 150mph, and durable too

I'm sure that updated calipers offer a bit more feel, but IMHO, there's just no need, especially for a road car

With £350 worth of uprated pads and discs they are suitable but as std IMO are poor compared to modern brakes.

I'm running Mtec discs and Ferodo DS2500 - around £250 worth, so not bad when you consider the cost of OE kit - plenty good enough for a road-only car, but not as good as my favourite yellow / DBA 4000 setup

I have M-Tec drilled discs and Carbotech XP8 pads, the Coupe doesn't over servo the brakes and I think thats what makes most people think that the brakes aren't good.
Another thing may be old brake lines, I certainly found brakes improved once the brake lines and hoses were all changed and refurbished callipers fitted.

In fact, I am with Nigel, the brakes arent that bad they have loads of "feel" and I have certainly had the ABS kick in on a dry, shellgripped road (with Toyo R1-R tyres). The secret I have found it so modulate the brake pedal slightly. Also to do a couple of high speed stops to about 20MPH every now and again.

It's the squealing that does my head in

Cheers Guys, mixed comments as expected!

On the whole, standard sized discs and calipers are spot on!

So whilst sticking with standard rims, and assuming a well maintained system, pipes fluid etc, its just the pad choice to achieve desired braking!

Excellent makes life simpler,....now wheres the brake pad thread

You guys are comparing to those dreadfully over-servoed brake like in a Golf where the first 3 mm of pedal travel gives you 70% of the brake force. Coupe's need a good heavy foot when braking, but ultimately you can really stomp on them. I'd say we have to get out and measure braking distances to compare!

Well maintained calipers and good pads sliding freely in the calipers make a massive difference.

+1

Brakes on the golf are awesome, coupe dreams of having such stopping power

i have bled the rear brakes ...... massive upgrade to the feel.... cant wait to do a full bleed

Here here, the Coupes brakes feel awesome, so progressive.

Always reminded of how crap modern brakes feel whenever I drive company vehicles (Audi S3s, Volvo R specs), as Kayjey says some cars you rest your foot on the brake pedal and get so much force with no real feel of innate control.

I had MTEC disc's with Performance Friction pads the last trackday and even new C-class AMG's were in my way. Unstoppable, and really basically uprated std brakes.

There's definitely something wrong with your brakes then.

I definitely agree with the above comments i was not after the over servo'd brake affect! but admittedly did comment that they do give a reassuring feel! even if they do fade fairly quickly

What my main question was really, Is there any bolt on bits off any other cars, i.e calipers or slightly bigger discs that still fit under the standard wheels to give an *advantage* and was the cost worth it!

Im happy with my brakes just wanted to ensure they will be the *best* that they can be

Keep the comments going though its always interesting to read peoples oppinions
Cheers

Not from other cars, inside std wheels, I don't think so.

Referb your callipers, press the peddle properly! Modern brakes are grabby and once they've wound the first 10 mph off quickly feel lack lustre!

Two other things that have not been mentioned - tyres and suspension! Old tired suspension = lost braking force as the car moves around. Cheap tyres = don't waste your money on expensive braking items as the tyres will let you down!

If you go down the rebuild route for the fronts, don't forget to give the rear calipers attention too. The sliders often get stuck which is easy to sort out and gives you better braking from the rear.

I just unscrewed the sliders, cleaned the mating surface and applied copper grease, the front brakes not only no longer squeal but also bite so much better than ever before.

Why did I not do this sooner?!

Regarding the rear sliders can these be sourced new from anywhere just wondering if mine are worn making the strip down and clean needing to be done more frequently getting to less than a year now perhaps not being helped by being low usage and also I need to replace a perished seal!