Do I need an Upgrade

[M100Brisbane]

Can anyone advise me on whether I really need to spend big on a brake uprade kit.
On my car the brakes really are rubbish, with a long pedal travel. I have bled them as well as I know how.

So, should I:

Buy new pads, seals and sliders and overhaul 4 calipers.

Or

Buy brake upgrade kit?

I know that the accepted wisdom on the forum is that the standard brakes aren't great. But are they that substandard for normal road (not track) use? If I installed overhauled calipers on 4 corners, how well would it all work?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Fredjohn]

Whilst you have long travel on the pedal, is the bite point firm or soft and spongy?

If the former, I would overhaul the existing brakes and see if it improves. An overhaul will not cost much. If the latter, and then an overhaul makes no change, you may need to replace the master cylinder.

I had spongy brakes for a while and although I have upgraded brakes, I needed to replace the m/c. Available from usual suspects.

[Saltire]

I went through the same thought process three years ago. Most people said the standard brakes were terrible, but the alternatives (PNM etc.) were reassuringly expensive, so I did a lot of reading on the forum before making up my mind.

What I’ve done is:

- thoroughly overhaul the calipers front and rear (new seals etc)
- change the brake fluid (this made a big difference, but bleeding them was a b****r)
- swop the master cylinder for one with a slightly smaller bore
- fit Mintex pads and discs front and rear (NB: I have the separate hub and disc conversion at the back; if you have the original combined hub/disc setup, you’ll only be able to swop the front discs, but they do most of the braking anyway).

I find the brakes now are absolutely fine. I don’t track the car, but I’m an enthusiastic road driver

[chrism]

In my case the handbrake was working ok and there was meat at the back so I felt inclined to look closely at the fronts. I considered the big brake advice - but boy is it pricey! Fronts do most of the work, anyway, don't they?

Mine were awful 'cos the fronts seem to seize easily. Mine had been standing and were originally well solid.

I spent ages freeing them off but they seized on again within ~10m so I decided on recon calipers rather than cheaper self-rebuild. I figured it best to rely on someone better than me...

Front discs + pads (in my case Pagid) can be really good v-f-m if you shop around and I'd already got these on the shelf via a half-price, free delivery seasonal promotion.

I found that the all-new standard fronts, with backs that work and pumping a litre of Dot 4 through for good measure have transformed my confidence - with the brakes now sharp, responsive and absolutely adequate (for my road use).

I hope my experience is relevant; in my case I think it was worth the gamble of a new standard set-up rather than a huge expensive conversion. (Phew, I'm glad it paid-off tho')

[Tuga2112]

Front Brakes are a topic that has been dividing the members of the forum for as long as i've been a member (and many years before i've been told)

the general consensus is that the front brakes properly maintained are bordeline satisfactory (they sure will pass an MOT and lock both wheels when you press the pedal hard enough)
Depending on what you are used to, then some people will tell you they are not comfortable driving with original setup and used an upgrade kit.

if the upgrade was only 100 quid per corner, I would have upgraded many years ago, but I know from experience that I can lock both front wheels when pressing that pedal.