Brake Discs

[feenix]

The Disco (200Tdi L reg)needs a new set of front discs. They are grooved and worn and are chewing up pads.  The pistons also needed an awful lot of persuasion to go back into the caliper and accept a set of new set of pads as they were so (c)rusty.  
So, is it worth just getting some new discs or replacing the calipers while I'm at it? Are spare pistons and seals available and is this a reasonable job for a weekend mechanic?  The rear calipers are fine, just the front need looking at.
I'm guessing that if I get new calipers I can go for vented discs, with the appropriate caliper, or I could just get some solid x-drilled/slotted for "improved braking" Any difference?
I will not skimp on braking. If I can improve the braking with a reasonable outlay this is preferable to standard & cheap pattern parts.
TIA :)
feenix

[Range Rover Blues]

The callipers are about £60-70 each, but the if the pistonsare goosed and I'd expect they are then it's not worth the faff.  I bought expensive S/S pistons and a rubber kit only to find the callpier housing was rusty and the wiper seals won't go in/stay in.  I hat ethe things so I'll be buying new ones soon.  Go for vented wh9ilst you are at it or go the whole hog and fit 110 diska and callipers, of is it the V8 CSW :?   anyway, one of the Defenders has bigger brakes :D

[Cyberprog]

The Disco (200Tdi L reg)needs a new set of front discs. They are grooved and worn and are chewing up pads.  The pistons also needed an awful lot of persuasion to go back into the caliper and accept a set of new set of pads as they were so (c)rusty.  
So, is it worth just getting some new discs or replacing the calipers while I'm at it? Are spare pistons and seals available and is this a reasonable job for a weekend mechanic?  The rear calipers are fine, just the front need looking at.
I'm guessing that if I get new calipers I can go for vented discs, with the appropriate caliper, or I could just get some solid x-drilled/slotted for "improved braking" Any difference?
I will not skimp on braking. If I can improve the braking with a reasonable outlay this is preferable to standard & cheap pattern parts.
TIA :)
feenix

New disks and pads and a caliper rebuild on one caliper took my chap 4 hours to do, and he'd never done exactly that job before. and the two new wheel bearings on both sides then took another 3 hours as one went :)
As you have to take the hub off, i'd advise replacing bearings at the same time.

[DiscoJim]

If you do any off-roading then stick with the solid disc set-up, vented discs tend to fill with mud causing a balancing problem.

Solid discs and good calipers work fine unless you are continually braking very hard like around a race track.

[Ralph]

I changed every all the pistons on mine just before christmas and they are perfect. Old pistons on the front were so crusty could not move them back at all ! one thing i will say is the wiper seals can be a bit of a beggar to seat and i did dammage four of these and had to get more!!! top hint buy an extra pack of seals.By the time i got to the last calliper a front one i was a dab hand at it only took a few mins to do, if you were closer to me i would do them for you.
ps
i went for genuine seals and pattern pistons, the instructions in the seals say to do it with calliper on car but it would be very difficult just take the pads out pump the pistons out to disc remove callipper and then grip piston with a pair of pliers and twist them out. I only had one out of 12 which was a bit difficult

[freeagent]

just another thought...

you can find a good, second-hand disco front axle complete for about £140ish..

this would give you a pair of calipers to refurbish at your leisure, a spare diff, 2 CV joints, 2 half shafts, 2 stubb axles... and al lthe bits you don't want you can flog off...

just an idea...

I need a new pair of chrome balls this year and am thinking of doing the same...

[Tyke]

is it the V8 CSW

Hmmmmmm . . . or the 130 specials?

Will do a check on that  

Solid discs and good calipers work fine unless you are continually braking very hard like around a race track

Or driving steep road descents . . . . . personaly, I think the standard brakes could do with improving if you drive anything but a bog standard vehicle.


I know I've had land rover brakes smelling rich more than once . . . .

[Leslie Henson]

Just because a caliper is rotten and heavily rusted, it doesn't mean it's beyond repair.  I stripped, cleaned, and re-furbed a pair of calipers off a 90. Thread with pics here:-

http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=2851


Les. :)

[DiscoJim]

Solid discs and good calipers work fine unless you are continually braking very hard like around a race track

Or driving steep road descents . . . . . personaly, I think the standard brakes could do with improving if you drive anything but a bog standard vehicle.


I know I've had land rover brakes smelling rich more than once . . . .

You could always use a lower gear and let the engine do some braking when going down steep hills. My Disco has been tweaked and I also regularly pull a heavy trailer and have never had problems with the brakes as yet anyway.

I did a track day in my Merc at Bruntingthorpe, after 7 or 8 continuous laps the brakes did start to smell but that was pretty extreme driving.

[Range Rover Blues]

If you want to fit any sort of performance pads the supplier will recomend vented disks.  I've never had a balance problem with them.

[redhand]

just another thought...
I need a new pair of chrome balls this year and am thinking of doing the same...

Prefer my brass ones myself. :lol:  :lol:  :roll:  :roll: