Opinions: Braided stainless steel brake hoses

[CJ]

I'd be interested to hear from anyone whos installed SS braided brake hoses with regard to improved pedal travel and braking. I put a set in the GS a few years ago and I didn't feel that there much of difference is terms of spongey feedback.

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

I'd be interested to hear from anyone whos installed SS braided brake hoses with regard to improved pedal travel and braking. I put a set in the GS a few years ago and I didn't feel that there much of difference is terms of spongey feedback.CJ

No experience on an FTO - put braided hoses on my last car (also had 4 pot Alcon 300mm brakes and Mintex pads) and they worked quite well - overall package was incredible - you really had to look in your rear view mirror every time you braked as tailgaters often got caught off guard. Great for thumping along a quiet road - but I hated seeing cars trying to keep up.

I intend on changing the FTO's brake fluid (dot 5.1) at the next service - I suspect that this would improve the spongieness of my present brakes no end. Braided hoses I am certain will improve feel but like anything I believe all these improvements will work best as part of an overall package - e.g. upgraded brake calipers, pads and discs - though I have to say I find the GPX 2 pots and larger discs more effective than my old GR's and the Green stuff pads also help. Have not got round to the braided hoses yet but its yet another to-do on my list. I won't be bothering with a big brake kit on the GPX - I think the brakes are still a lot better than the majority of other cars on the road - good front discs and pads, good condition brake fluid and the braided hoses should be more than good enough.


How do you guys find the brake pads you are using at present - the green stuff are supposed to be low dust - but they are quite soft and my alloys are constantly getting caked with the brake dust. Anyone use the new Red Stuff yet?? Or any other type for that matter

[CJ]

Anyone use the new Red Stuff yet?? Or any other type for that matter

It you're talking about the ceramic pads, the UK lads rate them pretty highly.

As I said, I noticed no discerable difference with braided hoses on the GS (included new fluid, drilled grooved disks and Green stuff pads at the same time), I changed the disks a while back on the GPX (drilled and grooved again) and mated them to Pagid pads with new Dot4 fluid, I was dissapointed in the overall outcome. The difference in braking is evident at high speed, buts that it. Pedal travel is still an issue as is spongy feedback, I might just bite the bullet and stick a set of hoses in for the sake of it, the originals are 10 years old after all...

CJ

[Dave]

don't mean to hijack this or anything but anyone know where to source a big brake conversion kit for the FTO, i know a guy in the uk was doing one.
Would a brake set up from say a GTO fit? or an evo?

[soc]

don't mean to hijack this or anything but anyone know where to source a big brake conversion kit for the FTO, i know a guy in the uk was doing one.
Would a brake set up from say a GTO fit? or an evo?

I'm planning on fitting the carriers and disks from a TT to my golf - apparently I won't need to change the calipers even though the disks are much bigger (not sure on exact sizing though) -

...Though I know this doesn't help you Dave

[Dave]

thanks shane!! very informative!!

[Mustang]

Dave wrote

anyone know where to source a big brake conversion kit for the FTO

Funky product do one. €1798.50
Otherwise maybe Steelroe can advise, I know he was looking into sourcing a kit.

Mustang

[Dave]

yeah i noticed that one alright! there's a guy in the UK that does the brembo big brake kit for the fto for something like 750 sterling!
it'd be handy if the evo or gto brakes would fit, then it'd just be a case of scouring the countries scrap yards!!

[Myfeckin FTO]

yeah i noticed that one alright! there's a guy in the UK that does the brembo big brake kit for the fto for something like 750 sterling!
it'd be handy if the evo or gto brakes would fit, then it'd just be a case of scouring the countries scrap yards!!

AFAIK GTO and EVO brakes will not fit without a lot of work. You could find a more suitable doner - Read a recent Jap Performance mag where a guy with a turbo GR had taken the 4 pot calipers and discs from a Seat Cupra R.

The Big Brake conversions from Camskill etc seem very expensive - you would save a lot by sourcing from a scrapped performance car and finding the right guy to fit them. He will need to be handy with a welder and maybe fabricating some brackets.

[CJ]

it'd be handy if the evo or gto brakes would fit, then it'd just be a case of scouring the countries scrap yards!!

IIRC, both EVO and GTO disks will fit the FTO, but the calipers will not unless they are heavily modified. The only surefire way to go is to spend a grand or so on a conversion.

CJ

[soc]

yeah i noticed that one alright! there's a guy in the UK that does the brembo big brake kit for the fto for something like 750 sterling!
it'd be handy if the evo or gto brakes would fit, then it'd just be a case of scouring the countries scrap yards!!

Go with the Brembo's - they'd look very cool peering out from behind your 18's - and they'll give a good indication to others of the potential performance in your car

[Dave]

yeah looking like the way i'll have to go! yet more money!! gonna need some overtime!
anyone want their windows washed? Even grass cut?

[Myfeckin FTO]

If you're looking for a lower cost option you could always just go with the GPX twin pots and discs - Steelroe may have a set???

Add in braided hoses and performance pads and you would have a good step up in braking from the GS. Then paint them whatever colour you want - heres mine painted an electric blue.

http://www.fto-ireland.com/images/misc/ ... %20002.jpg

[Dave]

it may be an option alright, looking at about 1100 for the brembo, and that's slightly more than i have to spare at the moment!

[CJ]

You wanna drill a hole in the bottom of those sidelights MFFTO

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

You wanna drill a hole in the bottom of those sidelights MFFTO

CJ

Done - I had the car about two months when that photo was taken. There is a never-ending amount of work you could do on an FTO. Finding the time and the bucks is the trick.

[Mustang]

MfFTO wrote

There is a never-ending amount of work you could do on an FTO. Finding the time and the bucks is the trick.

I hear ye! An on-going project. Not having a garage myself, the other thing needed is good weather (not raining). Can be difficult to get all these factor to coincide. What did I do on Saturdays before I bought the FTO???

[CJ]

There is a never-ending amount of work you could do on an FTO. Finding the time and the bucks is the trick.

Tell me about it! I splashed out on a new set of dampers yesterday, I'm hoping to get them fitted along with a bucket of other suspension componants in the next couple of weeks, while Pauls at it he may as well adjust the tappets and fit the oil leak on the cam seal, when I've spend all that cash, then its time to look at a leather retrim, who knows whats next!

CJ

[soc]

You wanna drill a hole in the bottom of those sidelights MFFTO

CJ

Done - I had the car about two months when that photo was taken. There is a never-ending amount of work you could do on an FTO. Finding the time and the bucks is the trick.

Man, that's one of the reasons my wife was able to convince me to sell on the FTO - no matter what work you did or parts you fitted there was always something else that needed doing. And this was only wrt basic maintenance - uprating parts was just something else that ate both time and money....


Although to be honest I'm already starting to feel the itch with the golf - just ordered some gear linkage parts from a TT (to shorten the gear throw on the golf) and a piston dump valve (in preparation for chipping) and I'm already starting to think in terms of chipping, thicker anti-roll bars and bigger brakes.

[CJ]

Man, that's one of the reasons my wife was able to convince me to sell on the FTO

Ah, you shoulda put the foot down there Shaneo! If something means a lot to you then you should work on convincing her of its merits, you could be out drinking or gambling your money rather than buying induction kits and lowering springs

Although to be honest I'm already starting to feel the itch with the golf - just ordered some gear linkage parts from a TT (to shorten the gear throw on the golf) and a piston dump valve (in preparation for chipping) and I'm already starting to think in terms of chipping, thicker anti-roll bars and bigger brakes.

Looks like you're gonna be back to square one there, once you get the urge to mod on the basis that you can get so much more out of your motor, theres no turning back. Make sure you hide your credit card bill

From my perspectice, modifying and looking after my FTO is a hobby, albeit an expensive one at times. If its something you enjoy and can afford (most of the time!), then go with it. My wife complains about the ride quality (ahem), so what do I do - I buy a bucket load of bushes and dampers to soften things out a bit and improve handling in the process, everybodys happy!

CJ

[Mustang]

CJ Wrote

My wife complains about the ride comfort (ahem) in the car, so what do I do - I buy a bucket load of bushes and dampers to soften things out a bit and improve handling in the process, everybodys happy!

You're really a caring, sensitive guy CJ. How unselfish of you

[CJ]

You're really a caring, sensitive guy CJ. How unselfish of you

Thanks for the kind words there My point is that its possible to compromise in these circumstanes. Pinch of salt Mustang, pinch of salt

CJ

[Dave]

ah the joys of being young free and single!!!

or maybe!!


the reason i'm free and single!!

[soc]

Man, that's one of the reasons my wife was able to convince me to sell on the FTO

Ah, you shoulda put the foot down there Shaneo!

yea, problem is I'd be fighting against 11 years of precident ...

If something means a lot to you then you should work on convincing her of its merits, you could be out drinking or gambling your money rather than buying induction kits and lowering springs

I'm really want to go OEM with this one - only genuine performance parts so probably won't be getting an induction kit. Lowering might be on the cards in the future though

Make sure you hide your credit card bill

I've already been doing that for a long time

From my perspectice, modifying and looking after my FTO is a hobby, albeit an expensive one at times. If its something you enjoy and can afford (most of the time!), then go with it.

I completely understand - cars are my hobby full stop. And I've just developped a particular liking for the FTO. But to be honest I'm somewhat happy as long as I have a decent car worth playing with.

My wife complains about the ride quality (ahem), so what do I do - I buy a bucket load of bushes and dampers to soften things out a bit and improve handling in the process, everybodys happy!
CJ

Good plan - I made the mistake of fitting poly bushes and while the handling was truely awesome the ride was very harsh. I think that was the final straw for my wife.

[Speedyboy]

Could be worse lads you could have a mrs that's hell bent on having a faster car than you !