New Brakes!

[Hail22]

Thanks for that mate, was waiting for the numbers to be posted up

[Allegiance]

Well I got the brakes fitted today, I will reserve my judgement until I have driven the car a bit more. I didn't get in it and say "WOW that fixed it!".

When I was speaking to the guy at Volkspower though, he said he didn't understand why I would put Australian discs + pads on over the factory german discs + pads because the australian ones aren't nearly as good quality.

So we will see what happens....

[Transporter]

When I replaced my brake disks on T5 even at the rear (I didn't do front & rear at the same time), despite I didn't open the bleeding screws, my new rear brakes cause that new brakes were weaker than old brakes - brake pedal was lower. I had to pressure bleed the system but the official factory manual doesn't mention that you have to do that when you push the pistons back in the caliper.

After pressure bleeding the brakes were as good as new again.

May be it would be worth while to ask them if they bled the system or not?
I suppose it depend how they feel, if they are worst than before then go back.

Edit:
Allegiance

I just remembered your post in different thread.

Hi Guys,

I notice with the Polo in the wet that the brakes feel quite spongy. Anyone else have this issue/feeling?

Thanks

...just make sure that after bleeding the brakes you activate ABS (brake hard enough to feel ABS working in the brake pedal, it completes brake bleeding job) - unless your repairer done it.

[Allegiance]

I don't believe they bled the brakes. I followed this bedding in procedure from the hawks brakes website:

1.After installing new brake pads, make 6 to 10 stops from approximately 30-35 mph applying moderate pressure.
2.Make an additional 2 to 3 hard stops from approximately 40 to 45 mph.
3.DO NOT DRAG BRAKES!
4.Allow 15 minutes for brake system to cool down.
5.After step 4 your new pads are ready for use.

After that, I also braked very hard twice to see how much of a difference they have made. By the end of that they were smoking.

I still don't know how much of an improvement they are yet. Will report back in a few days.

If I am still not satisfied I may trying bleeding them.

Thanks

[Billecartz]

I don't believe they bled the brakes. I followed this bedding in procedure from the hawks brakes website:

1.After installing new brake pads, make 6 to 10 stops from approximately 30-35 mph applying moderate pressure.
2.Make an additional 2 to 3 hard stops from approximately 40 to 45 mph.
3.DO NOT DRAG BRAKES!
4.Allow 15 minutes for brake system to cool down.
5.After step 4 your new pads are ready for use.

After that, I also braked very hard twice to see how much of a difference they have made. By the end of that they were smoking.

I still don't know how much of an improvement they are yet. Will report back in a few days.

If I am still not satisfied I may trying bleeding them.

Thanks

If you have replaced the original brakes with the same size just slotted and some new pads, I wouldn't expect a massive improvement in braking performance. To have a big improvement you need to change the size, caliper and pads this is why I am going to wait and see what there is thats bigger than my current setup.

[Transporter]

I don't believe they bled the brakes. I followed this bedding in procedure from the hawks brakes website:

1.After installing new brake pads, make 6 to 10 stops from approximately 30-35 mph applying moderate pressure.
2.Make an additional 2 to 3 hard stops from approximately 40 to 45 mph.
3.DO NOT DRAG BRAKES!
4.Allow 15 minutes for brake system to cool down.
5.After step 4 your new pads are ready for use.

After that, I also braked very hard twice to see how much of a difference they have made. By the end of that they were smoking.

I still don't know how much of an improvement they are yet. Will report back in a few days.

If I am still not satisfied I may trying bleeding them.

Thanks

It takes shorter time to bed in slotted discs. I would say that if you did 50km they should be already bedded in.
Don't try to bleed the brakes yourself, they should be pressure bled. I would go to VW dealer and explain the situation and even if you pay for bleeding the brakes and they work properly after, it's worth it.

[Buller_Scott]

seeing as you're going down this path, i'd also recommend that you get some decent fluid and have the old VW crap bled out....

during intense mountain pass runs, the first thing to go [for me] was the fluid- it started boiling REAL quick.

[Billecartz]

Allegiance..... how did the brake upgrade work out?

Was it work the changes or is it better to upgrade calipers and disks etc....

[dave_r]

I can't say I found the stock brakes to be a problem and I've given the car a good workout around the twistys and some higher speed stuff. I think you just needed to get used to them from which ever car you came from? They did feel a bit soft initially to me but just took some adjusting to.

[Allegiance]

I have found the new pads and discs to be quite good. I do notice they are better in the wet. I only did discs and pads. If I was to buy again though I would probably go something of higher performance.

[Allegiance]

I can't say I found the stock brakes to be a problem and I've given the car a good workout around the twistys and some higher speed stuff. I think you just needed to get used to them from which ever car you came from? They did feel a bit soft initially to me but just took some adjusting to.

Have you tried in the wet?

[dave_r]

Have you tried in the wet?

Yep. First weekend we had the car, we went to Phillip Island. Was raining on/off most of it. Maybe I don't/didn't have as high expecations of the car because so far almost everything about it has impresssed me.

[Hail22]

I have and as a light was turning Green to Orange (Near a safety camera) no shuddering or ABS used, very good

[Allegiance]

Maybe there was a change to the MY11? My last car was a non-turbo impreza so I dont think the brakes on that should be that much better.

[Hail22]

There has been changes including software campaigns which recitfied a few issues, that and the gear knob is much better then before.