front brake discs

[jules6]

Can any one tell meif 256mm discs will fit my 89 gtx I.ve looked in haynes manual and it says they are 239mm

[pajsh]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but as I've been going through the brake upgrade trauma I think I've now just about got it straight.

Standard 89 GTx will be 239mm disks and callipers. I have an 89 GTII with the same (or did have as they are now gone).

You can fit 256mm disks (AKA Scirocco/Golf 16v) but the Golf callipers/carriers will not fit the 'rocco as the bolt spacing on the hub carriers are different. Some 5 cyl Audi's etc will fit but I'm still not sure which ones and finding them seems to be the main problem.

With adaptors you can use 280mm disks and G60 callipers (or Mk3 Gti) but you need minimum 15" wheels and an upgrade on the servo and master cylinder. With the G60 calipers I've been told you will need the 9" servo and Mk3 GTi master cylinder to avoid excessive pedal travel (Edit - SEE FOLLOWING POST BELOW). I've bought a Mk3 master cylinder and it does not look like it will go on the 8" servo so it seems to be either one set up or the other. Most 89 cars I have seen have an 8" servo although everyone tells me they should be 9". Vagcat only has 9" on LHD cars and mine looks 8" but it's hard tell and it does not match the serial numbers so I'm still confused.

Finally there was talk of adaptors being made to space the existing callipers off the existing hub to work with 256mm or 280mm disks although I think so far it's not gone beyond the beer and barbie talk stage. Shame as this would seem to be a much easier upgrade for the standard 239mm car even if seemingly a bit of a bodge. A very simple job with seemingly no upgrade to the system at all and probably only £30-40 for the brackets. Unfortunately I've already binned my original callipers (they were in very, very poor condition) and so this is no longer an option for me.

Hopefully that is all correct and makes sense. Apologies if anything above is not correct but I'm still not totally clear myself.

So far if I add up what it's likely to cost me for the upgrade including new adaptors, Pagid disks and pads but 2nd hand callipers, carriers, master cylinder and servo it will come to around £220. I've not got the callipers yet though .

[jules6]

Cheers mate defo worth doin I thinks sometimes shits me up tryin to stop but good fun tho

[mark1gls]

Change your brake fuild if more than 2 years old and make sure your rear brake shoes are adjusted properly (there is some threads on here on adjusting them, the automatic adjuster does not always work very well), this makes alot of difference in the braking and is alot cheaper than upgrading front brakes.

[jules6]

Cheers for the info I.ve just had brake shoes for the mot I.ll chance the fluid see how it goes

[pajsh]

As you may have seen from my other post I now have a Mk3 servo and master cylinder as was suggested to me would work.

Well it won't!!!

Apparently now I am now told all Mk3 servos have a ball type actuator rod which it not the clevis type I need. So I need a Mk2

I have bought some G60 callipers and carriers which I'm hoping will be OK but the discs and pads have not arrived from ECP and so I'm still searching for parts and waiting for some to arrive.

Front brakes are proving to be a bit of a nightmare.

[Bonusrocco]

Yeah its a ballache all this brake upgrading! g60 stuff seems way more popular so therefore easier to find parts for, but yeah you have to run 15 inch wheels.

Alot of people go with vauxhall calipers now - this seems to be more sense as they are newer and easier to source. golf mk1 forum is full of it so check it out.

the mk2 era is becoming more and more obsolete it seems