Brake Pad upgrade for GTI MK6

[sharkablue]

Hey guys,

I am looking to update all my tyres (http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...tml#post789845), however while I am at it I was thinking of perhaps getting new brake pads for all my wheels.

The car has done 29,000KM so far, so im not 100% sure how long the stock brake pads are meant to last for?

If I could find a set of brake pads that provide better performance and less brake dust it would be great (I have 18" Detroits and would love to keep them shiny for longer haha).

What do people recommend?

P.S: If you upgrade/ change your brake pads from the genuine VW ones they put on a GTI, is your warranty void?

[Tobes_WIR35]

Hey guys,

I am looking to update all my tyres (http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...tml#post789845), however while I am at it I was thinking of perhaps getting new brake pads for all my wheels.

The car has done 29,000KM so far, so im not 100% sure how long the stock brake pads are meant to last for?

If I could find a set of brake pads that provide better performance and less brake dust it would be great (I have 18" Detroits and would love to keep them shiny for longer haha).

What do people recommend?

P.S: If you upgrade/ change your brake pads from the genuine VW ones they put on a GTI, is your warranty void?

Good thread - I am in the same boat. I only have 21,500km but my stock brakes just don't hold up on the track. The stock brake package looks pretty decent so the pads must be what's letting them down (maybe some good fluid too).

Will welcome the input of others

[Lucas_R]

Get a set of Remsa pads from GSL Rallysport. GSL are a sponsor on VWW. Much less dust and they are rated to 650 degrees. I put a set on my R in the first week of ownership because i hated the dusty OEM pads. $250 for a full set.

Im running them in my Golf R and my friend has them in his MK5 GTI and they are great.

See here for some info and pics >> http://www.vwgolf.net.au/showthread....pads-on-Golf-R

[Buller_Scott]

+1 for the remsa pads from GSL Rallysport.

a member of another car club i belong to has them in his evo 9 and loves the crap outta them.

you will have to shop around for brake fluid, though - last time i checked, GSL Rallysport had sold out of the TRW fluid - it's DAMN good stuff, very confidence inspiring, and i guess that's why it's sold out.

[nat225]

remember, all mk6 gti's built from around november 2010 come with different rear brakes. ie: Bosch brakes with 272mm rotors

afaik only Stoptech and Carbotech have released aftermarket pads for the Bosch rears. Hawk may have released theirs too.

I have used EBC redstuff front pads and the pads crumbled after a track day an many others have experienced the same.

Many people use Hawk HPS and Hawk Ceramic and they perform quite well for street use.

For serious street / track pads, Ferodo ds2500 is good, but expensive.

Currently i use stoptech street performance, some people claim they are as good as ds2500 at half the price. the dust is as bad as oem but easy to clean.

pre Nov'11 Mk6 GTI, Mk5 GTI, Golf R, Mk5 R32 and S3 all use the same rear pads.

[hooba]

The trick I learnt from CCP detailing course is to hit the Detroits and the callipers with a high pressure hose. I didn't find that putting sealant on them made much of difference (did one side of the car), but hitting the callipers got a heap of residual dust out that never made its way onto the wheels.

[sharkablue]

My GTI is a MK10 model which I picked up in July 2010. So I have the larger rears.

Is there much point in cereamic over normal brakes?

[Diesel_vert]

Hey guys,

I am looking to update all my tyres (http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...tml#post789845), however while I am at it I was thinking of perhaps getting new brake pads for all my wheels.

If I could find a set of brake pads that provide better performance and less brake dust it would be great (I have 18" Detroits and would love to keep them shiny for longer haha).

What do people recommend?

Consider getting some ATE Ceramic Brake Pads (see this thread for pics).

HSY Autoparts is the Australian importer so contact them for your nearest distributor.

The car has done 29,000KM so far, so im not 100% sure how long the stock brake pads are meant to last for?

Pretty open ended question - depends on what conditions you drive in and how hard you are on the brakes. Brand new pads are 14 mm thick & wear limit is 2 mm, so once you've measured the current thickness, you can then predict when you need to replace them.

P.S: If you upgrade/ change your brake pads from the genuine VW ones they put on a GTI, is your warranty void?

If it's of merchantable quality, then probably not. However, if any non-OEM part/s are found to have contributed to a problem, they may tell you to take it up with the manufacturer of said part/s and then it's up to you to chase it up with them.

However, ATE themselves are an OEM supplier of brake components for German and other European marques, so I really wouldn't be too concerned with quality.

Is there much point in ceramic over normal brakes?

Essentially, by virtue of using less metallic compounds, you get less black-coloured brake dust for similar performance as stock.

Not to be confused with carbon-ceramic brakes as used by exotic machinery. You literally have to be drowning in money to even consider a properly set up aftermarket system.

[brad]

however while I am at it I was thinking of perhaps getting new brake pads for all my wheels.

As the others have said, talk to GSL Rally Sport from these forums. The Remsas are very good & he has more track orientated offerings as well.

The car has done 29,000KM so far, so im not 100% sure how long the stock brake pads are meant to last for?

It depends on how/where you drive. I'm up to 90,000km & my brakes are at 7mm. Others wear them out in 20,000km.

If I could find a set of brake pads that provide better performance and less brake dust it would be great (I have 18" Detroits and would love to keep them shiny for longer haha).What do people recommend?

See above. The Remsa is probably your best all-rounder.
Also, take your rims off, clay bar them & then apply some form of synthetic sealant on the inner & oter rim & commit to washing them weekly with quality car wash detergent mixed as per the manufacturers instructions (eg: don't do the usual guy thing of "if 1 capful is good then 2 capfuls will be even better"

P.S: If you upgrade/ change your brake pads from the genuine VW ones they put on a GTI, is your warranty void?

Only on the brake pads & the rotors or if they can attribute failure of another component to the brake pads. I think Non-OEM brake pads are a fairly safe modification & as the others have said, Remsa are an OEM supplier.

[Diesel_vert]

Also, take your rims off, clay bar them & then apply some form of synthetic sealant on the inner & oter rim & commit to washing them weekly with quality car wash detergent

Heh, after a few months of weekly wheel washings, an overwhelming sense of apathy will start to set in.