FL S8 discs & pads NLA at TPS?
 

The brakes squeak horribly on my Dolphin s8 so I asked my pal to order me new front & rear discs and pads from TPS. He said they laughed and said these have been NLA for ages.

He ordered me brand new ones from TPS about 4 years ago on my Green beast so I didn’t expect any issues this time round. I always buy OE brakes where possible because I can’t deal with squeaky brakes but it looks like I will need to try an alternative this time round.

This thread is the most recent one I found by the Laird.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16684

Would you say this is the best route? How have they faired since being fitted? Any squeaky shenanigans?

Febi discs & TRW pads are currently the most satisfactory combination I've found.

For the brake discs I find that cheap discs are usually made out of steel instead of cast iron. I am not talking about the process of making them as steel discs are still made by casting and then machining but about classification where iron with less than 2% carbon is called steel and cast iron is over 2% carbon.

Simple cast iron is cheap to make but extra carbon make it brittle and not suitable for brake discs, to make stronger cast iron more advanced , more expensive manufacturing techniques and additives are needed so many cheap manufacturers just choose steel. Cast iron has better thermal properties, better corrosion resistance and is less likely to squeak. It also wears slower so cast iron discs last longer. On the other hand steel is stronger and has lower density, discs can be made thinner reducing weight or you can let the wear thinner an still maintain required strength. On the track car it might be beneficial to get steel discs if you can save weight but for everyday driver cast iron is more suitable. The issue is that manufacturers are not very upfront about material or carbon conten. It's also not necessarily easy to tell when you have them in your hand. Easiest indicator is probably when they are on the car when it's raining to compare how quickly and how rusted friction surface gets when parked in rain.

I think I’ll give them a try MJ. The discs I found using your part numbers in the previous post from The Laird, but I can’t seem to find the pads! I think they are out of stock:Confused:

If you get a chance could you help me find a set please

Interesting. I have noticed that the discs rust up very quickly on these so I think you’re on to something.

I don’t like the way they feel under heavy braking either so I can’t wait to change them.

The brakes on my S8 have never been better since taking MJ’s recommendations for discs and pads. And fitting MJ’s little aluminium brake block by the master cylinder, of course.

I think they are the same combination found on mine and have had no issues for the last few thousand miles they have been on the car.

Excellent. As soon as I can work out the correct parts I will buy them and get my pal to fit them.

I have the aluminium brake block in place as well…..on both 8’s actually. It made a huge difference on the pedal feel on Dolph. Now it’s the actual brakes themselves that let it down :D

Brake discs purchased…hopefully the correct ones:D

Fronts
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334748752...3ABFBMmI__w95h

Rears
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334690164...3ABFBMwrWyxN5h

I can’t seem to locate the pads. If anyone can help me track down a pair front & rear that would be appreciated.

I think I found a set

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195422286...Bk9SR8rXz8TeYQ


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153169116...3ABFBMqvTdxN5h

Is anyone able to confirm before I hit the buy button +++

That first link is incorrect. GDB1523, not 1532.

It looks like the TRW fronts are no longer available in the UK, along with everything else. I only found a couple of listings on ebay from sellers which are not to be trusted (Bonum ltd and OE_quality_parts - both scammers) so it looks like Autodoc is probably the best source:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/trw/2192146

I've just done the rear calipers/discs and pads. I ordered everything from Autodoc - Maxgear calipers, TRW discs and Brembo pads. The only issue was that fact that it takes a week to get the stuff - 2 weeks for the calipers as Autodoc apologised for "delays in processing".

Doh! Nice spot MJ - Thanks.

Thank you as well David. I wish I’d heard of Autodoc before. They’re quite a bit cheaper than EBay but I’ve already bought the discs…..never mind. I just downloaded the App for further discounts.

So I bought Febi discs from EBay. Are they any better or worse than TRW?

Which pads should I get from Autodoc; TRW, Febi or Brembo?

Ok, maybe it’s not as straight forward as I thought :rolleyes:

When I select Brembo pads there are multiple types to chose from even though I supplied my car reg.

I think the fronts are P85053. I’m sure I bought these for my very first s8 and the code/picture looks familiar.

The rears I have no idea :D

If you've not bought your pads and disks yesy investigate Black Diamond Disks and their Predetor pads. I have a set of these for the FL. I've not put them to a test on the track yet but I've heard good reports on them.

Brembo pads don't actually fit the Brembo calipers in my experience - thats why I use TRW. They're the only ones I've found that actually fit without filing down.

Febi discs are fine. Can't get TRW discs here.

I have Black Diamond Predator pads in the S8. They survived a day at Spa without complaint, although are pretty aggressive on the discs.

Now you mention it I remember the guy who fitted Brembo pads saying he had to file them down so they could fit. Only the fronts were an issue from memory. The rears fitted without issue.

I think I will play it safe and get the TRW ones. The predators sound good but a bit much for what I need.

You can never have too much braking power! It's like saying I'll have the smallest parachute for my weight!

When you word it like that Mike, it certainly makes more sense :ROFL:

Maybe if I don’t get on with the TRW’s I’ll slap a set of those on +++

:ROFL: Well, I would invest in tyres first, does not matter how good your brakes are if tyres don't grip.

From my own experience I find the standard brakes inadequate for anything apart from taking granny to the shops. The S8 in particular is more capable than the OEM brake installation would suggest. If fitting upgraded pads reduces stopping distance a bit; upgraded disks a bit more. Bigger disks more still; vented disks better still. Grooved disks more, grooved and drilled more + 1 and so on. I have been tracking my S8 since I bought my first one as it's such a capable car. A mile muncher that is very comfortable. But when you want to stand on the loud peddle, you will want to know you can stop even quicker.
Remember, the manufacture, generally, fit the least efficient brakes they can to meet the required standard.
My 2 penny worth. :)

The Febi discs and TRW pads were installed today. Immediately they feel better as they now bite without me having me having to stamp on the pedal before rear ending the car in front that has stopped for a red light :rolleyes:

They also do no squeal like a pig anymore which was so embarrassing.

My mechanic noticed that the old discs were heavily rusted front and rear and had what appeared uneven wear. He thinks they were just a cheap pair the previous owner slapped on.

I’m much happier and it’s another job ticked off the list. Thanks for input as usual guys. So far, very happy with them +++

I've never been entirely happy with the Pagid pads I fitted a year or 2 back so thought I'd order a set of the GDB1523 Mikki recommended.

I can confirm they fit and much easier than all the filing I had to do on the last set and they already feel much better.,

Out of interest I dug out the Pagid part number I used last time (selected via ECPs reg checker)

and they were 101441238

These tracked back to the same part number Autodoc recommend which is TRW GDB1506

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/...51q?search=OEN 4D0698151Q&supplier%5B0%5D=833

When I look up GDB1523 Autodoc say they won't fit my car. Which of course they do.

Anyone know whats going on here or is it just a case of their parts cross reference being flat out wrong?

Brake referb
 

Hi All.
Just looking to do a brake overhaul this year.
thinking full brake fluid change, new discs/pads and referb of calipers.
Any latest recommendations?
Many thanks...

Sorry to add more to this.
I have been searching autodoc.
Anyone with Pt numbers? I can see there are some differences...
:-(
Many thanks.

You don't mention exactly what D2 you have, so I'm assuming it's a FL D2 S8 since you've posted in this particular thread. With that in mind, part numbers are as follows:

Front
Disk - 4D0615301B 345x30mm B- Brembo
Pads - 4D0698151L - pair

Rear
Disk - 8E0615301B 280x22mm - PR Code 1KW (this is the bigger of the two disk sizes)
Pad - 1J0698451H - pair

It would help a lot going forward to add your car specs to your signature line, in case the above information doesn't apply.

yes, vehicle details are in my profile.
D2 FL S8

many thanks steamship.
Any recommendations for caliper referb'?

Few of us on here have used these

https://pro-calipers.co.uk/

Did a great job on my RS6 calipers

Thankfully Brian has answered the refurb question, as I have no idea.

Car details - Add them to your signature (User CP > Edit Signature). That way, it's always visible on every post you make, and no one has to search for it. It makes things easier.

That's what annoys me about the Facebook groups (A8/S8 related), where they ask a question about their A8/S8, and forget that there are 4 generations of them with a multitude of variances.

There’s also a place between Derby and Nottingham, BCS or Brake Caliper Specialists https://www.bcs-automotive.co.uk/#/

Good to know, and good customer testimonials, but my oh my, why do companies let themselves down with simple mistakes like this? :eek3::

"To be the best, you need three key ingredients:

EQUIPMENT: Capable of delivering the best results
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIEMNCE: Held by staff so they are able to deliver the best results
INTENT: To be the best. Without the motivation or care, no person can do great work"

:tuttut:

Were I a pedant I would say that's 4 things!

Pro Calipers look like the place to go.
I need to start a list of what to get for the referb.
Maybe I should add brake hoses to the list?
Any suggestions for those or anything else I should do whilst I am at it?

So Far:
Discs and Pads (list given many thanks)
Caliper rebuild
Brake Hoses
??

Thanks again.

If you do, part numbers are as follows:

Front: 4D0611707F or 4D0611707H
Rear: 4D0611775G

Also, depending on what state the retaining springs for them are in (see image), that part number is 4D0611715B.

Great.
Many thanks.
I'll start shopping.:)