Are they realy that bad ?

1. Gothy Newbie Joined: Feb 2012 Lincolnshire Posts: 3 2003 saxo vtr

   #1 17th March 2012, 22:49

   Hi all,
   Ive got a 2003 model vtr and the brakes in my opinion are realy poor,ive taken it to my local garage to have them checked and they say they are all working as they should and arnt worn out and the brakes are poor on these cars anyway,im not happy with them so can anyone please advise me what the options are to upgrade them.
   Thanks in advance,
   Trev
2. Ashleyp Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Apr 2008 Bedford & Manchester Posts: 17504

   #2 17th March 2012, 22:55

   they are awful mate!
   
   it depends on your budget.
   
   good spec pads / discs / fluid in the standard 247mm calipers would give an improvement
   266mm brakes from various other pug / citroen models with decent pads, fluid and discs would be an upgrade for around £100 - £200 (at least i think thats what they go for?!)
   283mm 4pots - brembos, wilwoods, hispecs are all around £300 - £500 2nd hand, but offer the best braking ability - useful if you plan to go on track.
3. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

   #3 17th March 2012, 22:55

   they arent the best cars for braking due to how the servo is linkaged ect
   
   a simple brake overhaul of new fluid and some nicer pads such as mintex 1144 or ferrodo ds2500 not a full race spec but nice on the road will make the world of difference
   
   imo converting to bigger brakes is a little over rated unless you really abuse the brakes (says he guy with 285mm 4 pots on one car and standard with good pads on his other) lol
4. Pricklep Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 31279 Citroen Saxo VTS, S60 D5

   #4 17th March 2012, 23:09

   I have to agree they arnt great at all.
   
   About as good as my brakes on my old 1.0..
5. user_29491 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Lancs Posts: 4124 JP4S'd R.

   #5 17th March 2012, 23:18

   Press them harder.
6. chinkostu Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 The wrong carpark Posts: 5152 Xantia 1.9TD

   #6 17th March 2012, 23:40

   Mine are shit hot. Then again, they get nicely warmed up and have plenty of feel, not on or off. Will happily stop on a pin.
7. Carl-h Established Member Joined: Jul 2011 Wolverhampton Posts: 1573 Honda Civic Type-R EP3

   #7 18th March 2012, 00:14

   I think the brakes are great. My previous clio just seemed to have a stupidly powerful servo. Touch the brakes and your getting almost full with that. At least with the saxo I've got a bit of feel there although they can feel a little vague at times. I much prefer a brake you have to put some pressure on that just touch lightly, helps heel and toe massively too.
8. DanTvts Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Torbay Posts: 1285 Mauritius Vts, 206 Gti 180

   #8 18th March 2012, 00:59

   I wouldn't say my standard brakes were terrible, just had decent pads and discs and they were okay, i just found i was getting a fair bit of brake fade when using them hard, started loosing confidence in them. So when it was time to replace discs and pads, i just upgraded to 266's with decent discs/pads/braided lines/new fluid. They are perfect for me, not stupidly heavier but can stop the car in next to no time now, much more confidence in them.
9. Karlb1 Established Member Joined: Jan 2011 Aylesbury Posts: 1868 Seat Leon Cupra tdi

   #9 18th March 2012, 09:33

   I prefer the brakes to my ex's clio, when i drove that they were literally on or off, the peddle had no travel at all (which some people prefer, just personal preferance i guess) and my old fiesta xr2i was inbetween the saxo and the clio, that was the perfect setup for me.Saxo brakes aren't too bad, just aren't exactly the best. As said though, the 266mm upgrade from a 206 gti etc will do nicely, or even a 283mm upgrade if you're feeling that won't be enough, but i wouldn't do that unless you're on track a bit.
10. TwiggyMK Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2011 Buckinghamshire Posts: 143 Hopefully soon to be Vtr

    #10 18th March 2012, 09:59

    If you've got an saxo with abs can you still change too 266s?
11. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #11 18th March 2012, 11:26

    yes you can and for everyone who says saxo brakes are crap, try adjusting the linkage from the pedal to master cylinder before you upgrade as a little play there can lead to a poor pedal
12. DanTvts Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Torbay Posts: 1285 Mauritius Vts, 206 Gti 180

    #12 18th March 2012, 11:31

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by TwiggyMK If you've got an saxo with abs can you still change too 266s?

    Yes you can, no probs as the abs is run off the driveshafts not the calipers.
13. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #13 18th March 2012, 11:32

    theres a guide somewere on here to adjust the linkage
    ive got mine set quite agressively with how its adjusted it is allmost on or off
    the rc5+ currently in seem pretty decent but not done huge mileage on them to give a full judgement but they work quite well tbh
14. NismoSteve Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2011 Thorne+Grimsby Posts: 717 S2GTi / Megane cc

    #14 18th March 2012, 12:14

    My VTS brakes are adequate for the road, just. If I work them hard they fade easily. If I took it on the track with standard brakes they'd not last one lap. I will be putting my GTi6 brakes on soon.
15. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #15 18th March 2012, 12:20

    i still dont see why everyone is going so big yes ok they perform better bit for a lot less effort and a simialr outlay you can just put good pads in and adjust the linkage to suit
    
    ive got 285mm high specs on my 106 and tbh comparing they are better but a decent kitted standard setup will be more than adequate on track for a novice
    i simply have the aforemantioned rc5+
    
    no braided lines no funky discs and just bled with halfords 5.1
    
    ive got more than enough confidence in them down the lanes and i have no issues in taking the car on track on saturday with them
16. welshpug Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2010 South Wales Posts: 3078 ZX 16v, 205 GTI, 309 Goodwood, 405 MI16.

    #16 18th March 2012, 12:20

    sounds like many here need to learn to drive properly, a 200 kilo heavier 306 DTurbo and 306 XS makes do with the same brakes and they work just fine.
    
    or you are used to stupid over servoed brakes from your corsa learner cars :lol:
17. LSOfreak Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810

    #17 18th March 2012, 12:38

    ive got an oe mintex setup all round and its not that bad at all really. Like any other car. Then again i dont ever blast it around a track or use my brakes excessively.
18. Carl-h Established Member Joined: Jul 2011 Wolverhampton Posts: 1573 Honda Civic Type-R EP3

    #18 18th March 2012, 19:48

    Mine have been freshly bled with halfords 5.1 and I've not experienced any fade at all. Fair enough maybe on track I would but I'd still take mine on the pads it's on and wouldn't expect much fade till maybe the end of a session. I absolutely detest over servo'd brakes. I'd much rather have non assisted that you have to really lean on but at least you have some control! The standard brakes really are good enough especially for the road, it's possible for me to lock up all 4 wheels if I try to by being a bit quick with the pedal and I never get fade. I'd say that's good enough?
19. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

    #19 18th March 2012, 20:12

    standard calipers will do the job. Its the OE pad material that can potentially let them down, but you have to drive correctly or you will overheat them. Technique is key. I used to left foot and trail brake our old 106 van and never overheated those brakes on the road. If you can do that on the VTS then you are most likely braking too hard and for too long.
    
    Track driving is a different matter. The worse the chassis, suspension and tyres, the harder the brakes will get worked. Standard sized discs with race pads will work absolutely fine on a well setup car for most, but with stickier tyres they may simply not be able to apply enough braking force to lock the brakes. Racing is a different matter as cars are driven flat out with no potential for a breather..
20. vtr2007 Established Member Joined: Mar 2007 Wigan Posts: 1644 2002 Renault Clio 16v

    #20 20th March 2012, 21:21

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mandyslover70 yes you can and for everyone who says saxo brakes are crap, try adjusting the linkage from the pedal to master cylinder before you upgrade as a little play there can lead to a poor pedal

    hi where is this located?
    
    thanks
21. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #21 20th March 2012, 22:53

    brake pedal adjusting guide
    
    http://www.saxperience.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=194460
    
    in the stickies nice and easy to find