HELP- Defender 90 performance break discs and pads

Jalowe7 said:

Hey guys,
I own a Defender 90 TD5. The defender is stage 2 with roughly 200bhp however the time has come to change my break discs and pads to more suitable ones due to wear and tear. Which are the best type of break discs and pads to go for?

Many thanks,

Jake

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johnlad said:

If you’ve fitted bigger than 16” wheels there are bigger brake upgrades available, which give much better stopping power

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Jalowe7 said:

Also vented discs or non vented?

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dag019 said:

That depends on if you ever venture off road. If road only then vented will be fine, if off roaded regularly then they fill with mud and stones and you may as well have fitted solid to start with.

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Litch said:

Yes, you needed wider callipers for vented discs but I would have thought that you already have vented fronts on a TD5?

Are you looking at a serious (£££) upgrade using larger diameter discs and different callipers or just "performance" versions of standard brakes?
When working correctly with good hoses & fluid then the standard brakes are very effective, throw on some Greenstuff pads and new (vented) discs and you should be able to stop straight & true. Biggest limitation is usually the tyres but I assume your 18-inchers are low(ish) profile and very road pattern?

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v8250 said:

Have a chat with HiSpec Motorsport. I have their 4pot billets on another car, they're excellent http://www.hispeccalipers.co.uk/caliper-selection.html and they're very well priced

They do conversion kits for Landies but I'd suggest you talk with them for final kit spec'.

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v8250 said:

1. it's "brakes"
2. remember it's not the size of the disc/caliper. it's the size of brake pad braking surface and heat dissipation efficiency of the brake system :. a good quality vented disc plus good quality braking pad material will be far better than humongous Carlos Fandango jobbies...can recommend Brembo vented discs and Mintex fast road MT1144/1155 pad material; combined they have excellent brake fade characteristics...or Mintex F2/F4 for heavier vehicles

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Litch said:

"my td5 has got discs on the back as well so rather than drums so should I use vented on fronts then non vented on front?"

A TD5 will have solid discs on the rear as standard (drums were phased out several years before).
Fairly certain that all TD5's had vented front discs as standard.

I would just make sure that your existing brakes are working correctly (inc hoses & fluid) and that if the discs & pads are scored or grooved that you replace them with new ones, working correctly I think you will be surprised at how sharp a Defender can stop. People often try to "upgrade" when the existing set-up is not working at 100% efficiency anyway.

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Litch said:

"my td5 has got discs on the back as well so rather than drums so should I use vented on fronts then non vented on front?"

A TD5 will have solid discs on the rear as standard (drums were phased out several years before).
Fairly certain that all TD5's had vented front discs as standard.

I would just make sure that your existing brakes are working correctly (inc hoses & fluid) and that if the discs & pads are scored or grooved that you replace them with new ones, working correctly I think you will be surprised at how sharp a Defender can stop. People often try to "upgrade" when the existing set-up is not working at 100% efficiency anyway.

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wireman said:

My 2002 90 has solid disks on the front and rear. When they became too glazed I replaced them with Britpart cross drilled and grooved versions ( with new mintex pads). It stops great even with 3 Ton trailer behind it. That was over 2 years ago. You get what you pay for but I've been happy with my choice.
Vented disks are wider than solid so you will need different calipers.

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