johnlad
Well-Known Member
If you’ve fitted bigger than 16” wheels there are bigger brake upgrades available, which give much better stopping powerHey 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
Jalowe7
New Member
Yeah I have 18” wheels. I’ve been looking at ebc break discs and green stuff pads. Are these good as I want quality so I don’t have to constantly replace? Also vented discs or non vented?
dag019
Well-Known Member
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.
Jalowe7
New Member
It was mainly for road use only, wide body with lowered so not ideal of road. I’ve heard that you need to use different callipers for vented discs? I’m trying to find replacement discs and pads without really messing with callipers so what would the best brands and configs be?
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?
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?
Jalowe7
New Member
Hi, yeah my tires are a road profile, 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? Not looking to break the bank as I am a student
v8250
Well-Known Member
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'.
They do conversion kits for Landies but I'd suggest you talk with them for final kit spec'.
Jalowe7
New Member
Okay thank you, Ill put it on the list for future upgrades just looking for a new set of break discs and pads atm but unsure which to get
v8250
Well-Known Member
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
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
Jalowe7
New Member
Will I need to change my callipers for vented discs? It’s a 1999 td5
"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.
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.
Jalowe7
New Member
Okay thank you, Do you know what size the discs are or should I get the wheels off and measure it?
wireman
Well-Known Member
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.
Jalowe7
New Member
Okay thanks, I had a look under the car today and the front are vented with the rear solid. I’ve looked into some Brembo discs and I’m struck between mintex pads or ebc green stuff.
I fitted grooved discs and EBC pads to my 2006 model TD5 in early 2013, as well as replacing the seals, pistons and flexible hoses. I'm now on my third set of brake pads and when the current set are worn down I'll probably need to replace the discs too, because they're showing signs of wear. That's around 90,000 miles they've lasted. When I put them on, the brakes seemed to be considerably more fierce than they were before, but that may have been because the old pistons had glued themselves to the seals with rust and so movement was distinctly limited.
