Brakes recommendation - WS Fiesta

[Ms_Jam]

At the 60,000km service, the dealer has recommended replacing the rotors and pads on the front wheels. I'm not complaining.

I wonder, however, if the $550 quoted could be be better spent at a brake shop.

What configurations/brands/models of rotors and pads would people here recommend, in order to get the same or better performance?

[Mooa42]

$550 doesn't sound ridiculous but it is a pretty easy job if you are just replacing pads and disks. Undo two bolts on the caliper, disk slides off, squeeze pistons back, insert pads put new disk on, install caliper and do two bolts up, pump pedal and then do the other side.

The WS Fiesta brakes are the same as a Mazda 2 so you can get Japanese pads like Project U, but probably not needed unless you enjoy a bit/lot of a hoon.

I would think you could get pads and disks for around $300 possibly cheaper if you know someone. Aftermarket disks would normally be between $50 and $100 each and pads from around $100, (Although Project U's will cost you over $300).

[pmacc]

it seems like the usual price for a service center but id personally get into contact with Matt from Race Brakes. Matt's prices will be alot better and any brake place can do the job alot cheaper than a service center


MATT PEARCE
RACE BRAKES SYDNEY
02 9609 1101

[vhcbm]

I ran EBC Turbo groove rotors and they were pretty good. Also had the EBC Green pad which were rubbish. Stock pads aren't bad to be honest.

[Ms_Jam]

Thanks, guys. I'm afraid the last thing I would ever do is get under a car!

I was hoping to get a setup that would put less dust on the wheels than the stock pads, but that would be at least as good, and last as long. What are the other colours of EBC pads like?

I'm happy to pay around $500 for the rotors and pads installed. I'm in Melbourne.

[Fiesta God]

I have a relatively good set up that is way less dusty than the stock Ford brakes (see below). The stock Ford discs in particular are rubbish.

I have got double the km's out of my aftermarket pads than I did out of the stock Ford pads, and they still have plenty left.

Speak to a brake specialist (e.g. Brakes Plus), you should be able to get something that fits your requirements for under $500 installed. I would stay away from ceramic ("life time warranty") pads though.

[ach]

I've just had the front brakes done on my WS Zetec about 6 weeks ago, so I'm keen to hear other people's experiences here.

Originally Posted by Fiesta God

I have a relatively good set up that is way less dusty than the stock Ford brakes

Fiesta God - I'm curious to find out how much your DBA rotors and TRW pads cost, would you mind telling us? Also, how do they compare to the stock setup in terms of braking feel and progressiveness?

In answer to the OP - $550 from the dealer doesn't sound too bad to be honest. My dealer quoted me $420 just for changing the pads (they reckoned I didn't need to do anything with the rotors).

I ended up taking it to a local mechanic, and paid $420 for new pads AND new rotors. He fitted REMSA pads and rotors on the car, which I was happy with as I had read some good feedback on the REMSA pads.

So far I'm very happy with the brakes - good braking feel, very progressive, and no brake squeal. The only negative is the amount of brake dust they produce, probably even dustier than the stock setup!

[Fiesta God]

From memory they were just over $400 + fitting. They don't bite as quickly as the stock pads/discs, but under heavy braking they definitely stop more quickly. Far less brake fade, I got the stock pads very hot without much effort, whereas these are a lot more durable.

Only downside is that you do get some squeal, particularly if you lightly ride the brakes for a while ... a couple of fast corners and hard stops fixes that

Nothing unusual for more performance-style pads though

[EG30]

I would suggest a pair of Protex rotors and TRW pads.

Protex rotors I buy for my Honda type R's are around $55-60 each, TRW pads around $60-70 I would say for fiesta ws/Mazda 2.

I use Protex rotors for competition work and I find them to be far superior to DBA and RDA rotors ie they don't crack suddenly and prematurely unlike performance grade DBA 4000 series rotors.

TRW pads is a euro car formula ie plenty of metal plenty of carbon dust but no squeal and stop reasonably well up to a point and then it fades badly. If you punt your car hard then go for Ferodo DS2500 assuming they make them for your car.