How to retro-fit the 312mm front brakes to a Mk7 Golf

[golfdave]

Hi, yeah. But Octavia 3 1.4 tsi with torsion beam rear is equipped with 253 mm (10mm non ventilated) diameter discs at back. Golf and Octavia 3 1.8 tsi (and later 2.0) got both multilink rear with 272 mm discs (10mm non ventilated). Yeah sure it wont make big difference due the weight balance shift, but just thinking that is this so bolt-on fit for 1.4 ocu. Front is same with 288 mm discs and 57 mm pistons. But is that difference 253 vs 272 at rear starting to feel somehow, and are there more differences I should be aware of? Master cylinder?

Your Octavia will have a manual hand brake...those 272mm have electric hand brake in Europe on the Golf.....

Also if they only fitted one size/type to the torsion beam axle, & the bigger ones only to the Multi-link, the mounting points will be different for the brake caliper, so you may not be able to swap them over unless you also swap the suspension over..which is more difficult on the Octavia than on the Golf...

 

[Nifa]

Your Octavia will have a manual hand brake...those 272mm have electric hand brake in Europe on the Golf.....

Also if they only fitted one size/type to the torsion beam axle, & the bigger ones only to the Multi-link, the mounting points will be different for the brake caliper, so you may not be able to swap them over unless you also swap the suspension over..which is more difficult on the Octavia than on the Golf...

Ive been told that there no all mounting points for multi-link in octavia, if its equipped with torsion.
I am just wondering is it ok to mount those 312mm to front, even if the back discs are smaller 253mm ones and not the 272.
It have the same symptoms, braking is a bit on / off. For me smaller (253) discs in back are ok with bigger front, if the car just behave in braking as it should be.

 

[golfdave]

Ive been told that there no all mounting points for multi-link in octavia, if its equipped with torsion.
I am just wondering is it ok to mount those 312mm to front, even if the back discs are smaller 253mm ones and not the 272.
It have the same symptoms, braking is a bit on / off. For me smaller (253) discs in back are ok with bigger front, if the car just behave in braking as it should be.

Like I said its more difficult to swap the suspension over on Octavia....

I can't bring up the correct ETKA page for the torsion beam brakes to see how they mount & if any bigger sizes were done of brakes for torsion beam...I know they went upto 150PS 1.5lt engine size, in torsion beam Octavia MK3.....

The fronts if you have the 288mm you can swap to 312mm, as for the rears I am out of ideas......choice is yours..

 

[Cuzoe]

Mk7 GTI PP rear brakes will bolt onto the MK7 (NAR) TDi, which has torsion beam rear... so that is an upgrade path if it can be confirmed the torsion beam rears/brakes are the same. NAR Mk7 TDI does have 253mm rear brakes. For what it's worth, I'm running 6 piston Brembo brakes up front with the 253mm rears and the car feels better than stock, strong but linear braking as opposed to on/off.

 

[Nifa]

confirmed the torsion bea

Mk7 GTI PP rear brakes will bolt onto the MK7 (NAR) TDi, which has torsion beam rear... so that is an upgrade path if it can be confirmed the torsion beam rears/brakes are the same. NAR Mk7 TDI does have 253mm rear brakes. For what it's worth, I'm running 6 piston Brembo brakes up front with the 253mm rears and the car feels better than stock, strong but linear braking as opposed to on/off.

Hi, thanks. I think i'll leave the 253 mm at back if you have experience with bigger front + orginal 253 mm rear, since the front is (most likely) the issue with that on/off. I were just concerned from that 312 / 253 combo, since most of the swaps seems to be on cars with 272 mm rear.
Just for curiosity torsion beam and multilink have same wheel hub at back it seems? I bet the torsion beams are the same, since its vag

 

[motley]

Hello everyone and huge tanks to @golfdave for this priceless write up!

I'm an A3 35TFSI owner and after a year of ownership I realised that my brakes are too small. They look even smaller with 19 inch wheels. That's why I started looking for information on brakes upgrade and found this thread. I read through the entire thread and I'm ready to order new rotors and carriers already. However I'd like to ask you a question that I didn't see anyone asked (or perhaps I missed it somehow).

The 312mm discs must be heavier than the 288mm ones. The carriers should be just a little heavier, I guess. Did anyone experience any negative MPG and/or comfort change after this upgrade due to the added unsprung mass?

 

[golfdave]

The 312mm discs must be heavier than the 288mm ones. The carriers should be just a little heavier, I guess. Did anyone experience any negative MPG and/or comfort change after this upgrade due to the added unsprung mass?

I put the 312mm discs as 1kg heavier than the 288mm versions.....but I had reduced the alloy wheel weight by 2kg as swapping to better/lighter aftermarket alloys....& that's the best way if you're looking for better MPG, comfort/handling..those 19" rims look nice but totally ruin the ride/handling & MPG compared to my wheels...

 

[motley]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Dave. You did the right thing by replacing alloys with the lighter ones. I've done just opposite lately. My new 19" wheels are 900 gram heavier than the old 19" ones. I'm still trying to figure out what causes that comfort drop (the old ones were fine). Perhaps my suspension, shocks in particular, can't handle this increase of the unsprung mass and the car feels shaky. I didn't have it when the old wheels were on and the ride was smooth.

Sorry, it sounds like an off-top, but 1 kg change of the unsprung mass can do it to the car and I guess I would need a set of new alloys (again!) if I upgraded to bigger brakes.

 

[golfdave]

My new 19" wheels are 900 gram heavier than the old 19" ones. I'm still trying to figure out what causes that comfort drop (the old ones were fine).

The design of the wheel, with the spokes dished outwards & a stiffer alloy will affect the handling..also the tyres if different could have a stiffer sidewall even though the same size as before...

Personally I wouldn't run more than 18" on this car & my 17" winter alloys would fit around the big 345mm 4 pots Porsche Macan caliper conversions that people are doing, as they are designed to fit around BBK.

 

[motley]

Yeah, I run 18" winter wheels but my summer setup is 19"
I just bought a set of new trw callipers with carriers and pads for just €139 shipped. Now I need to choose rotors, so questions come. Should I rather choose brake pads of the same brand as the rotors or can I use the oem (trw) pads with for instance Brambo rotors?

Does anyone have a picture of 312mm drilled discs with 19" lightweight wheels (OZ Legerra HLT, Bola FLD etc)?

 

[golfdave]

Yeah, I run 18" winter wheels but my summer setup is 19"
I just bought a set of new trw callipers with carriers and pads for just €139 shipped. Now I need to choose rotors, so questions come. Should I rather choose brake pads of the same brand as the rotors or can I use the oem (trw) pads with for instance Brambo rotors?

Does anyone have a picture of 312mm drilled discs with 19" lightweight wheels (OZ Legerra HLT, Bola FLD etc)?

You can mix & match OEM stuff, so TRW, ATE, & the plain Brembo.

Don't go for drilled discs...been there done that..waste of money.

A few grooves to clean the pads is OK..I run Brembo "Max" discs which I find have a better groove than my previous ATE "Infinite loop" discs.

 

[motley]

Do you have any unwanted sound when braking?

 

[golfdave]

Do you have any unwanted sound when braking?

No..not with either the ATE or my Brembro grooved discs...

Previous car had 20+ grooves (Tar.ox & EBC) on discs & that made a noise....more grooves more noise..

 

[Nifa]

Installed those 312 mm in Octavia 3 with torsion back. Much better braking feel. Front is now a bit more heavier feeling when turning wheel (as expected). I am now using Skoda superb's 18" "Modus" wheels with better ET than the Octavia 3 orginal rims and they are maybe a bit too heavy.
Most likely I should get some lightweight forged 19"... But wife..

 

[golfdave]

Installed those 312 mm in Octavia 3 with torsion back. Much better braking feel. Front is now a bit more heavier feeling when turning wheel (as expected). I am now using Skoda superb's 18" "Modus" wheels with better ET than the Octavia 3 orginal rims and they are maybe a bit too heavy.
Most likely I should get some lightweight forged 19"... But wife..

312mm disc are circa 1kg extra weight each compared to 288mm discs.....

I reduced 2kg weigh per alloy/tyre unit moving from the OEM 17" alloys to aftermarket ones for the same size rim & tyre as OEM...