Upgraded Brakes

[Titan1995]

I am going through a suspension / brake refurb on my Bongo.

I have 18" RX Alloys fitted and am contemplating a brake upgrade.

I notice that RX-8 brakes look very similar albeit bigger.

There are many companies offering uprated RX -8 brakes and just wondered if anyone has attempted this on a Bongo.

[roosmith]

I haven't but will watch with interest. There are upgrades available to the existing pads and discs (Black Diamond and the like) and I'm tempted on a set of these, as I also am in need of an overhaul.

[rita]

You will need a Big Break Kit suitable for your vehicle, I would contact the suppliers/motor sport IE Venom etc etc for expert advice.

And maybe the TSB.


Good Luck.

[Gasy]

There's groved and drilled vented discs about for around £65 a pair

Or pro race 7 front brake kit 4 pot 335mm
£1122 inc

[stuc]

Or Brembo caliper covers for £6 a set off ebay

[helen&tony]

Or Brembo caliper covers for £6 a set off ebay

Hi
Yes...that's more like it. I haven't found the Bongo lacking in the braking department. If they're working properly, the standard brakes are more than adequate, or they wouldn't meet Japan's strict build / design regulations. I think Ian stocks all the necessary repair parts!
Cheers
Helen

[winchman]

I fit Ferrodo Premier pads to my vehicles and I have found them to perform much better, I feel a lot of after market stuff is poor but works, but pay a little more and you will get better performance, I too feel a full upgrade wouldn't be worth the money

[vanvliet]

Mine are EBC' greenstuff' and are fine on the Bongo

[ELZE]

Or Brembo caliper covers for £6 a set off ebay

Now that's what I call an upgrade

[roosmith]

When I jump out of either of our "modern" cars into the Bongo it is really noticeable how much more effort and distance it takes to stop. As per a previous post before the winter lay-up I've got a chuffing from one wheel which might be a warped disc. While I'm changing them, I'm just considering something like Gasy suggests, not a big brake upgrade necessarily. Also when towing with the caravan, the caravan stops quicker than the Bongo does and drags it backwards under braking. There is no way my stopping distance should be better when towing 1500kg of caravan!!!!

If you are all reporting the standard are good anyway, perhaps I already have cheap poorly performing brakes on it (they haven't been changed under my 3 year ownership).

[mikeonb4c]

When I jump out of either of our "modern" cars into the Bongo it is really noticeable how much more effort and distance it takes to stop. As per a previous post before the winter lay-up I've got a chuffing from one wheel which might be a warped disc. While I'm changing them, I'm just considering something like Gasy suggests, not a big brake upgrade necessarily. Also when towing with the caravan, the caravan stops quicker than the Bongo does and drags it backwards under braking. There is no way my stopping distance should be better when towing 1500kg of caravan!!!!

If you are all reporting the standard are good anyway, perhaps I already have cheap poorly performing brakes on it (they haven't been changed under my 3 year ownership).

I experienced brake fade once in my Bongo at the bottom of a long hill after a lot up upping and downing in the Yorkshire Dales and when very heavily loaded. Since then I've tended to use the autobox for engine braking a lot more in hilly country. It's a 2 ton van and does well considering, but there are limits.

[Northern Bongolow]

ive driven quite a few bongos and the brakes do seem to vary a lot, most will be the pads but the servo is very different on my wifes compared to mine so maybe that side of things should be looked at and maybe improved. if yours is a manual gearbox the clutch master cylinder is in the brake master so harder to sort. auto box upgrade should be ok though.

[teenmal]

ive driven quite a few bongos and the brakes do seem to vary a lot, most will be the pads but the servo is very different on my wifes compared to mine so maybe that side of things should be looked at and maybe improved. if yours is a manual gearbox the clutch master cylinder is in the brake master so harder to sort. auto box upgrade should be ok though.

Never heard that one before, the brake MC and the Clutch MC are usually separate components but can share the same fluid reservoir /header tank. It should not make any difference to the maintenance of the units.


Just a bit of useless information.

[Titan1995]

Really just looking for something to fill the wheel rim.....I deal with AP Racing at work and will run something by them.