Tonights Job - VXR Brakes

Maverick

After my trip to Courtenay earlier this month, I decided to fit the 322mm VXR brakes this evening. Very easy job, will be interesting to find out how much better they will be over the 308's.

I also fitted Courtenay Braided hoses to the front as well. Never had these before so will also be a first for me.

Just got to wait until the spring now to see what they are like!

308's will soon be for sale, so will put the details in the right section soon.

Headlamp washer conversion is next on the list and should be done over the weekend.

JohnnyN

Nice job as always Matt. One thing that I want to know though.....How is it that Audi brakes are so sharp that they almost plant your face in the windscreen?? I've not yet driven another car that has standard brakes like an Audi.

Maverick

I don't know John, our old A3 was the same. My dads Zafira is the 1.9 120 cdti with 308's and his throw you through the windscreen as well, but I have not driven another Zafira like my dads.

Matt

Our pool Megan at work is the same, slightest dab of the brakes and it throws you into the windscreen. I think you just get used to a certain braking feeling from your car. The VXR felt sharp when I first got it, but now not so much.

One thing to keep an eye on Matt, is the brake hoses rubbing on the drive shaft. I've got the same hoses fitted to the VXR, and when it went in to have the suspension fitted, that is one thing they pointed out to me.

guy_27

Got point about the hoses matt.
The vxr hoses are longer than the stock hoses on the mk4. Without knowing this, my hoses ended up rubbing on the inside of the wheels. Only took the plastic coating of the braided lines and a line of paint on the wheels. They have since been zip tied to the shock so they don't touch the wheel.
I love my vxr setup and am easily out braking astra turbos with the 308 setup on the race track.

Maverick

Thanks for the pointers guys. I think I should be Ok, the hoses come already fitted with a grommet that locates on the strut bracket just like the original. Have a look on the pics and you should see it.

Hopefully this will stop that happening.

Matt

Mine also has the grommet for locating them in the strut, but they are still catching.

DSC_4148 by Matt Worthington, on Flickr

Maverick

Cheers Matt for the pic. I have double checked mine and I can't see they will catch, but time will tell!

Matt

To be fair, mine have been on now for more than 12 months, and it was only then the VX dealer pointed it out that I noticed. You can only tell it's catching because of the rub mark on the drive shaft. It must only be doing it at a certain turning point on the wheel.

vocky

those brakes look huge 😃

Maverick

The brakes I was looking at were 356mm! These are only 322's, which considering the originals were I think 288! they are big. The wheel being 18" though makes the brakes look at little smaller.

astra22bertoneauto

Do you have any trouble with 18" wheels on you astra? I noticed in 1 of your pics the tyre is very close to the plastic guard on the wheel arch.

Maverick

astra22bertoneauto said:
Do you have any trouble with 18" wheels on you astra? I noticed in 1 of your pics the tyre is very close to the plastic guard on the wheel arch.

Non at all. The reason being is that I have the genuine Astra G (MK4) 18" alloys that were optional onCoupe and Convertible form 2004-2006. They are ET45 offset and I run the correct size 225 35 18" tyres. Many think they are twin top wheels but they are not. Also, the overall diamter is not too different from the original 215 40 17" tyres.

Also the pitcture is not a true representation. The wheel arch liner is not in it's normal position as it normally sits further forward when attached to the bumper.