pedal travel???

[chief]

as the title suggests really how much pedal travel do you have on the brakes. since driving the f****a to work i have noticed that the brakes kick in way before the callys. is this right? if not why not???

[Rusty_CallyT]

i hate driving new VW's at work, everytime i get in 1 i end up nearly flying through the windscreen cos the brakes bite early and usually bloody hard!

[chief]

its been on my mind since i changed the disks and pads a few months ago, im putting a fair bit of pressure on the pedal before i get a bite. it moves maybe an inch or so. but when you drive a different car this is more apparent didnt think a feserati would have better brakes than a cally???

[Animal]

I noticed that in a vw polo I once drove!! Was like someone dropped an anchor out of the boot!

[dj_smurph]

the calibra weighs approx 1300kg the brakes do seem pretty bad but i think it all becuase of the early abs system, the when you get the pedal pressure up they become predectable, i regularly manage to get the abs to kick in on my van in the dry

[chief]

was thinking of getting braided hoses to try to sharpen them up a bit, any good?? and which ones to buy??
also would it be worth completely changing the brake fluid??

[dj_smurph]

goodridge hoses but any reputable company

[chief]

wow super quick reply, where can i get a set?

[TonyDTM]

apart from beefing up your hoses, use could always change the brake fluid on regular intervals. I do a main service once a year on mine and change the oil twice a year. Brake fluid loses its hydraulic properties over time and therefore is every bit as important as oil changes. Many people overlook this. It only takes 15 mins with an old milk bottle and a bit of old washer tubing.

[chief]

i do the oil every 6 months already, cant say i know when the b/fluid was last changed whats the easyest way to do it.

[TonyDTM]

easiest way is a bit of wire around the neck of a milk bottle. put a piece of washer tube on the brake bleed nipple. put the other end in the bottle, undo the bleed nipple a couple of turns, hang the lot on the caliper using the wire. pump the pedal til it runs dry. tighten the nipple. do the next one.
when all are done, loosen the 1st again, tip in brake fluid. get someone to watch while u pump the pedal, as soon as u get 1 good squirt come out the tube, tighen the nipple. Do the rest the same.

[chief]

so if i was gonna get braided hoses that would be an ideal time to give it a change, which b/fluid do you suggest?

[Paul]

I've got braided hoses and new fluid.
However it still feels pathetic compared the brand new Passat I was driving the other week.

I think the Cally's brakes are generally crap. I can't help thinking there's something wrong with my set-up, but there can't be. It's got new discs and pads all round, braided hoses, and new fluid. It never loses fluid, so I'm assuming there's no leakage anywhere.

However, when first driving the car if I give the pedal a couple of pumps before the first proper brake, it makes it feel firmer. Is this normal???

On top of that, in general I think it's just an old design thats not up the task of 1400kg and 260 Bhp.

[Rusty_CallyT]

i think VW brakes are generally pap, they are ghey, either off or fully on and dont ever stamp on them, will end up in the windscreen.. hate them. prefer the calibra brakes, far more progressive and u actually have to use them lol

[Toddy]

VW brakes are a blooming nightmare. Just got a Golf as a hire car and nearly head butted the windscreen:icon_mrgr