Are early mk2 (A reg.) brakes totally rubbish from factory or is it due to a problem with my car(more likellly)

When I press them the car slows down very, very slowly. But then if I press them stupidly hard then the car skids!

I've driven a few other mk2s but all later ones and they don't have this problem.

The car has only just gone through an MOT as well

Cheers, Joe

If the brakes are locking up with a fair bit of pressure (no servo, remember) then surely it's the tyres that are shite?

The pads are the size of a postage stamp. My brakes were swapped out with newer calipers (VW1 - can be found on late mk2s and all mk2F) and that helped so much, G40 brakes are on soon to cope with brake fade. It does take some getting used to not having a servo - you have to push the pedal quite a bit harder...

Early mk2 brakes are just stupidly dangerous, even with fresh fluid and new pagid pads and brembo discs they were still stupidly shit

Its a must to upgrade to a VW1 set

Ah. I wasn't expecting people to say that they're actually crap. I know someone with some G40 brakes so I'll give him a text!

This has almost been covered to death already,but one new point i could make is that its utterly pointless upgradeing to VWI calipers - because VWII calipers (as used on G40) are actually easier to get hold of,now. Nearly every breakers has a pair,they were fitted to so many VWs. You've got to fit new pads anyway,which are only £15 for the required G40 ones,so the only other addition is new vented discs,as fitted to MK1 and early MK2 Golf GTi's. They're not expensive,and new discs make alot of sense in this case anyway,given that you're changing to a different shaped pad - and you dont even need vented discs,so you could fit VWII calipers with normal VWI pads and your standard discs,then upgrade to G40 pads with Golf GTi discs at a later date.

Its all sweet.

I just bought a Mk2 Coupe S and when i was bringing it home i had to

brake heavily for a roundabout and i almost shit myself It felt

like nothing was happening,Mk2 brakes are fooking rubbish.

I am now looking for some g40 brakes. There's a set in the for sale section and I know someone who has or may have had some for sale so I hope he still has them.

I know what you mean. It scared me when if first drove a Mk2 without a brake servo. The A reg. Polo that I have now is way worse though! They feel as if they do nothing. Really scary!

You might also want to check the brake pipes aren't corroded (maybe leakage in one circuit).

They tend to rust at the rubber clips where moisture collects.

VW incredibly used steel not copper pipes and it is 23 years since A reg.

You'll stop.. eventually but you'll you'll shit yourself on the way, and you might have a tree shaped radiator grille.