Brake pads: road, sport or track

The pad accounts for most of how the brakes feel. Road pads favour quietness, low dust and effectiveness from cold. Sport ranges, such as EBC Yellowstuff or Ferodo DS2500, bite harder and cope better with heat during spirited driving, at the cost of slightly more noise and dust.

Track compounds only work well once hot: they are not made for everyday traffic.

Plain, drilled or slotted discs

• Plain disc: the original-equipment choice, quiet and long-lasting.
• Drilled disc (for example Brembo Xtra or Zimmermann Formula Z): the holes help clear gases and water and give a sporty look.
• Slotted disc: the slots clean the pad surface and keep the bite consistent under hard use.

An anti-corrosion coating, such as Zimmermann's Coat Z, keeps the disc's hat and edge clean behind open-spoke wheels.

When should you change discs and pads?

Signs to watch for: the wear warning light on the dashboard, a metallic grinding noise, vibration through the pedal or steering wheel when braking, a car that pulls to one side.

Each disc carries an engraved minimum thickness (“MIN TH”): below it, the disc must be replaced. Depending on wear, discs are often changed with every second set of pads; new discs are always fitted with new pads.

Braided brake lines and brake fluid

Braided brake lines (stainless steel braided, for example Fischer Hydraulik Stahlflex) do not swell under pressure: the pedal becomes firmer and more precise.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which lowers its boiling point. It is generally replaced every two years, according to the manufacturer's service schedule. Use the specified standard (DOT 4 or DOT 5.1, glycol-based) and never mix it with silicone-based DOT 5 fluid.

Big brake kits and homologation

A big brake kit combines multi-piston calipers with larger-diameter discs. It requires wheels that are large enough and have the right design to clear the calipers: check compatibility before choosing your wheels.

In Switzerland, non-original discs or braking systems require a homologation certificate for your vehicle. Where one exists, it is supplied or offered at extra cost: see Homologations.

Brake fitting in Geneva

Our workshop in Aïre fits brakes bought from Rupteur, with labour at a fixed price per axle: CHF 99 for pads, CHF 129 for discs and pads. Replacing the brake fluid with a full system bleed costs CHF 119.

Brake service in Geneva