Front discs/pads

Guv · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:58

Car is a 1998 Mondeo ST24.

I have 2 cracks in 1 of my front discs so they need changing and I'll do the pads at the same time.

I used some Mintex discs/pads when I did the rears a couple of weeks ago that I got off ebay for £60+postage.
They seem fine and I'm happy with them but I can't find any Mintex pads for the front.

So, what other brands should I look at getting?
Is there really a big difference in the make of a brake disc or are they all just the same metal? and is it the quality of the pad that makes the biggest difference?

The fronts are bigger and more expensive so I don't expect to find anything other than very cheap budget ones for £60.

thanks

Scania · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:18

I'd go for OEM discs & pads as a minimum.

Mintex are decent kit however and would be happy to fit it to my car.

Budget brakes is no saving whatsoever, it may cost you far more than you'd ever imagined.

I recently paid through the nose for new discs & pads on my BMW @ BMW dealers rates(!) at the same time having an ABS issue sorted.

The stopping power of my car is fantastic now ( the old discs were aparently not OEM so the dealer told me) I don't regret the £150 odd extra I spent over crap fit prices, money well spent imo.

Skimping on brakes & tyres is dangerous in the extreme.

Dandle · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:23

Go to www.mintex.co.uk and they do list pads for your car.

Guv · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:24

thanks for the advice.

Maybe I'll get some Mintex discs off ebay and hopefully Halfords will stock some Ferodo pads.
Discs from places round here some to be about £40 more than ebay.

I don't want to go with the cheapest but I can't afford EBC prices either.

Nozzer · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:25

I always change front & rear at the same time...

Guv · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:27

Dandle said:
Go to www.mintex.co.uk and they do list pads for your car.

thanks. There's also a Mintex distributer about 7 miles away as well so I'll give them a ring tomorrow.

Guv · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:28

Nozzer said:
I always change front & rear at the same time...

ok..
I don't think it makes much difference as long as if you do the front or the rear you replace both sides?

Nozzer · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:30

Guv said:
ok..
I don't think it makes much difference as long as if you do the front or the rear you replace both sides?

Probably not, but I like to know all my braking kit is the same age all round.

(I know they wear at different rates before anyone mentions that).

Dandle · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:30

Nozzer said:
I always change front & rear at the same time...

You shouldnt have to do that as the car should be biased to brake more at the front than rear(unless fully loaded) so your fronts should wear out first.

wassap · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:38

I got my V6 brakes from a-z motorsport on ebay, cost 50 odd for the pads and discs, this was a while back mind.

Its a pain to do as most of the time the discs end up rusted to the hub and it takes heat to get em off, on mine the lump hammer just didnt cut it at all, if i were you i would douse the back of the hub with wd40 a few days prior to doing the job, it should help.

Its nearly as a pita job as the altenator!

Dandle · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:45

I personaly wouldnt use wd40 anywhere near the discs or pads as if it gets on the pads you will have no brakes. There should be a couple of screw holes on the disc to screw in a release screws to remove the disc if its stuck on the hub(a gentle tap with a hammer normally does the job though).

Guv · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:50

My rear discs were seized to the hub. After a couple of minutes of "gentle" taps with the hammer into the hub it came off.

Lopéz · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:54

Last time I swapped Mondeo discs I had to hit them so hard to move them that they fractured the disc. A small amount of grease prevents it happening again.

wassap · 20 Mar 2006 at 19:57

Guv said:
My rear discs were seized to the hub. After a couple of minutes of "gentle" taps with the hammer into the hub it came off.

Trust me the rears are nowt like the fronts, like lopez says its a right pita, when you put them on make sure the hub has no rust around the rim,use a bit of emery on it to get all the crap and slap a bit of copper grease on it.

Lopéz · 20 Mar 2006 at 20:01

In fact, the hub desing of the Mondeo is overall pretty poor - if you aren't careful it's very easy for the wheels to be come irritrievably bonded to the hubs both front and rear.

energy · 20 Mar 2006 at 20:47

I picked up a pair of front discs and pads, Mintex, off ebay for £35+£10p&p for my mk1 Mondeo - even though the existing discs and pads were in reasonable condition (ferodo pads), I did see a noticeable increase in the initial bite of the pedal, well worth the swap. Of course, discs for an ST24 will be more expensive, but whatever you do, don't skimp on tyres & brakes