Are 1.8T brakes a worthwhile upgrade?

[Turbodude1]

I am thinking about doing wheel bearings while trying to sort out a vibration I can't seem to find and wanted thoughts on using the 1.8t/vr6 spindles ad brakes. The can be bought super cheap from parts cars now & I was wondering what kind of stopping improvment I will notice. I will buy new Hawk HPS pads and new rotors of course. The MK4 2.0 brakes feel fine in my 2dr Golf, but I feel like they work pretty hard in the wagon.

Thanks!

 

[LNXGUY]

It's a nice cheap upgrade for sure. I run that setup on my wagon as well.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Even though the rotors are only 8mm larger, the friction surface is significantly larger. Folks like them. I am not a big brake user so I've never done the upgrade, even on my race cars.

 

[Axxe]

Did it to my wagon as I needed all new calipers and local parts cars had good condition used brake parts for reasonable prices. Added bonus is the bearings had 1/3 the mileage

 

[turbovan+tdi]

I have a 1.8 wagon and a TDI wagon and to me, the TDI's brakes work so much better, my 1.8 brakes feel like wood,

 

[jettawreck]

My 1.8 wagon has fantastic brakes, when I use them (I coast a lot). I will have the 1.8T brakes in my 2003 when I get the TDI swap finished (hopefully) this spring. Not that I need them, but they were obviously already on the 1.8 chassis.
I wish I had them on the 2001 Jetta TDI. I tow stuff with that on occasion and more brakes are better, even if the loads aren't much.

 

[Turbodude1]

While we are on the subject, how much benefit is there to running Audi TT spindles and control arms? I realize I gain some adjustability in the ball joint. Does the spindle change ride height? (I am not changing suspension as there are new Bilstein HD's on the car.)

Probably just going to do the 1.8t/Vr6 stuff though.

 

[Enabled]

So I take it the VR6 brakes are the same thing? I have access to a donor VR6 for these parts.
The big question is if they clear 15" wheels? I didn't think they did.

 

[turbovan+tdi]

So I take it the VR6 brakes are the same thing? I have access to a donor VR6 for these parts.
The big question is if they clear 15" wheels? I didn't think they did.

My 1.8T wagon has stock 15's on it.

 

[Turbodude1]

Enabled, yes they are the same brakes. As stated above, while they aren't that much bigger, they have more braking force due to better pad swept area and caliper design. Plus they don't have those stupid caliper slider pins that are always stuck.

 

[Smalls]

Yes, they clear factory Avus wheels.

I did the upgrade on my 01 tdi. Coupled with a good set of pads and rotors all around and a good brake bleed and it's a night and day difference.

 

[bmali98]

My 1.8t wagon stops better than my tdi golf. Firmer pedal and quicker responding are my observation. I had 15" Canadian tire steelies on the wagon, no issues.

 

[brandonkraemer]

Thinking about redoing all 4 corners of my TDI 1.9L ALH mk4. I've read some about that, if using the VR6 setup or OEM is better. I want to keep my 15" rims.

Is is possible to get new calipers or only refurb at this point? Are aluminum calipers a bad idea?

I assume VCDS is required to do this job?

 

[turbovan+tdi]

Thinking about redoing all 4 corners of my TDI 1.9L ALH mk4. I've read some about that, if using the VR6 setup or OEM is better. I want to keep my 15" rims.
Is is possible to get new calipers or only refurb at this point? Are aluminum calipers a bad idea?
I assume VCDS is required to do this job?

Nothing wrong with refurbished as they only reuse the housing.

Aftermarket calipers are aluminum, fyi.

 

[LNXGUY]

Thinking about redoing all 4 corners of my TDI 1.9L ALH mk4. I've read some about that, if using the VR6 setup or OEM is better. I want to keep my 15" rims.
Is is possible to get new calipers or only refurb at this point? Are aluminum calipers a bad idea?
I assume VCDS is required to do this job?

VR6/1.8T setups are OEM.. I'm not to sure where the confusion lies..

You can keep your 15in rims and still run the bigger brakes.

 

[compu_85]

I have VR6 front brakes on my car, they work well. Be sure to replace the rubber pieces the sliders ride in as they get soft and crappy with age, leading to a soft pedal.

-J

 

[BakoTDI]

I know the front 1.8 brake setup fits the original TDI setup. But what about the REAR brakes? Can that be swapped too? Thanks.

 

[RexNICO]

I know the front 1.8 brake setup fits the original TDI setup. But what about the REAR brakes? Can that be swapped too? Thanks.

I wouldn’t say “.. the front 1.8 brake setup fits the original TDI ...”, as it requires swapping out the front knuckle/spindle.
As for the rear, the normal 1.8/VR6 uses the same rear caliper/carrier/rotor. Only the 337, 20th AE and later GLI 1.8’s have different rear brakes (vented) and those caliper/carriers fit with the proper dust shield “adjustment’ or replacement and correct larger vented rotor. The R32 & AWD TT MK1’s rear caliper carriers can be used too, just require a small bracket from ECS.

 

[BakoTDI]

I wouldn’t say “.. the front 1.8 brake setup fits the original TDI ...”, as it requires swapping out the front knuckle/spindle.
As for the rear, the normal 1.8/VR6 uses the same rear caliper/carrier/rotor. Only the 337, 20th AE and later GLI 1.8’s have different rear brakes (vented) and those caliper/carriers fit with the proper dust shield “adjustment’ or replacement. The R32 & AWD TT MK1’s rear caliper carriers can be used too, just require a small bracket from ECS.

Yes you’re absolutely right on the front brake setup. I did get the knuckles and spindles.

On the rear brakes, if I understand correctly, there is no difference in the setup between TDI and 1.8.

Thanks for the explanation Rex!


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[RexNICO]

?.. On the rear brakes, if I understand correctly, there is no difference in the setup between TDI and 1.8. ...

Correct, unless you’re referring to some of the “special” 1.8 models as mentioned above.

 

[Problypropylene]

I also have the 1.8t/vr6 front brakes on my '03 wagon. I feel it was a great upgrade and you get some nice performance pad options. I'm running EBC Redstuff pads front and rear and ATE200 fluid.

With factory TDI brakes any time I was in a panic stop situation it would feel like I was using 100% of the brake power, and did not feel like I was slowing down fast enough (no wrecks though!)... with the bigger front rotors/pads I don't think I've used 100% of the power and panic stops are not as stressful anymore. Even during spirited driving I don't feel like I ever need 100% of the brakes. Feels good to have that reserve.

 

[Rrusse11]

I did the VR6 upgrade to the front, 288mm rotors, lighter pedal and immediate
improvement. What this does do though is shift the braking bias.
I found some used rear calipers and carriers for the rear and then installed
256mm vented rotors.
Car brakes flatter with the rears working better, for balanced handling
I recommend both front and rear upgrades.

 

[Shenandoah]

Folks,

I'll add my comments on larger front brakes. I've got several mkIV series VWs. One of my parts cars is a Jetta 1.8T. I was getting ready to do struts on my 2005 Beetle and figured I'd pull the entire knuckle/strut assembly and swap it out.

I pulled the knuckles off the 1.8T parts car. Removed the old struts; removed the old wheel bearings; removed the old lower ball joint; removed the rotor, calipler and caliper bracket. The caliper bracket is removable on the 1.8T knuckle and the Audi TT knuckle. I picked up a set of front calipers and caliper brackets for a mk1 Audi TT (the calipers are the same as the VW 1.8T) for $100 from ebay. The Audi TT has 312mm front rotors. Pressed in new wheel bearings; installed a new lower ball joint; installed new struts; mounted the Audi TT caliper bracket.

On my Beetle, I pulled the whole strut/knuckle/rotor/caliper assembly and replaced it with the 1.8T knuckle with all new parts and the Audi TT caliper bracket. Installed new 312 mm front rotors and new pads. Replaced the TDI front calipers with the Audi TT/1.8T calipers and bled the brakes with my motive brake bleeder. Once everything was back together I took the car in for an alignment (since I put new lower ball joints on).

One thing I notice is the steering is much "firmer". By that I mean when I turn the wheel, the front end doesn't seem as "light". I'm guessing this is due to the heavier/larger rotor and calipers.

Eric