***Definitive 147/156 GTA brake upgrade thread***

Well Alfa UK have said to replace the discs with std items
So I will have to see what happens. I've asked for different pads as well as I am sure the std items are not very good.

Final update from me on this subject is that ARUK will not budge and get my discs etc upgraded. They say that when an upgrade is applied it is down to 'individual' cases and is reviewed on this matter. They won't answer why mine was rejected and why a colleague had his done?

Bad news mate.... how are the new disks feeling?
Out of interest, where did your work mate get his upgrade done?

Can any one tell me what the upgrade consists of? Is it just discs and calipers? Does it also require different alloys from the standard 17in teledial's (thats what the 5 holes ones are called isn't it?). Anyone got an idea of how much it would cost you for the upgrade?

read the thread - its all in there.........

Originally Posted by Netcom80

Can any one tell me what the upgrade consists of? Is it just discs and calipers? Does it also require different alloys from the standard 17in teledial's (thats what the 5 holes ones are called isn't it?). Anyone got an idea of how much it would cost you for the upgrade?

yes all answers are in the thread...

it should cost you nothing.
It consists of new larger calipers & pads and 330mm discs (instead of 305mm)
If fits 17" GTA teledial wheels fine.
If you have the optional 17" GTA Multispoke wheels, a replacement set of revised 17" multispoke wheels were also included.

BUT, it is now almost 2-years since the upgrade was made available and over 2-years from when they started fitting the larger brakes at the factory. As you can see from previous posts it is proving difficult to get it done now and it seams to vary from one dealer to another (although it obviously shouldn't).

Thanks for your reply. I've had a quick glance at the posts but not read all of them in detail. I was trying to gauge the cost of the upgrade and understand why there is no consistent policy on AR's part. I could perhaps understand if the upgrade did include two new alloys as this would increase the cost considerably. What I meant when I said how much does the upgrade cost was has anyone paid for the upgrade out of their own pocket? I've had my 147 for 4 months now, it an 04 plate demo from a dealership. From the pictures in this thread I believe that I have the 305mm setup which is abit surprising due to the age of the car. I can't say that there is a problem with them apart from they squeak at low speed and I'd rate them no better than my old Fiat Bravo 155HGT's brakes. I'm trying to get all the correct facts together before I tackle the issue with my dealer. From the other posts in this thread I think I've got no chance without first warping some discs but it costs nothing to try.

I was told that cars manufactured after Nov 03 Had the 330mm discs, so if yours has 305mm then that info is obviously wrong?
I heard a figure of £2k mentioned to do the upgrade, but that was thru chinese whispers!

The guy who I mention (a colleague) is an owner in Sth Yorkshire (gets serviced and was sorted by Reg Vardy), and he had is OK'd by Alfa 2 days after mine was rejected. Alfa said they take each car on merit and decide from there, but they won't commit to an answer as they know it will be spelt out on a forum somewhere (I'm sure!).

Someone mentioned that areas within the Alfa network (i.e Herts/ beds etc) may have a 'budget' they work to, and if in that area warranty work exceeds that budget during any given period then the warranty offer on something that could be classed as wear and tear would not be offered, so maybe a similar thing happens with the upgrade?

I argued that the discs fitted would no doubt last no more than approx 20k, in that time the car would be out of warranty, and I'd have to foot the bill, and as the problem was/is Alfa's from the outset, I don't see why I should have to pay. Needless to say, no answer was given to that!

Originally Posted by ukoldschool

Bad news mate.... how are the new disks feeling?

Oh, they're crap! The car now has a servo problem so is in today for a new servo (and a starter motor?) so hopefully once all done they'll be very good. Took the oppurtunity to have AutoDelta's braided brake hoses installed, but as the servo is faulty, I can't say if they make any differences! Find out Friday......

the cost i believe is about £1200 in parts (not including wheels if req'd) the date that your car was registered has nothing to do with when it was built, any dealer should be able to tell you that by doing a quich search, or alternatively start looking under seats etc and you will probably find a sticker when they were made giving you a rough indication of when it was built, my previous alfa was first registered 10 months after its build date!

Chris, I did type 'manufactured' and not 'registered' date!
The figure for the cost I got included wheels, so we're on the right course.

Andy,

I would advise you to keep at the dealer over this.

They initially weren't going to fix my warped discs (3rd set in 11K miles) as my car was listed on their system as "an import", despite thet fact that I bought it from that same dealership (quite how one builds a car in Italy and gets it to the UK without it being imported is beyond me) and therefore not under warranty.

They subsequently admitted it's a "computer glitch" and fitted new discs (gratis) last week but said they weren't sure if Fiat/Alfa warranty providers would reimburse them so they effectively went out on a limb for me; which is why I'm a bit surprised at their attitude towards your upgrade.

So don't believe everything you are told: get them to make sure yours isn't subject to the same "computer glitch" as mine was, which may explain the refusal to upgrade your brakes.


"Someone mentioned that areas within the Alfa network (i.e Herts/ beds etc) may have a 'budget' they work to, and if in that area warranty work exceeds that budget during any given period then the warranty offer on something that could be classed as wear and tear would not be offered"

... oops thats probably my fault.....

I will keep on at them, I'll leave it for a few weeks, but as I also want to trace the details etc of my car (background, claims history etc) and the fact they've just put on new discs/servo etc it may be hard to argue about my brake upgrade!
I know how the conversation will pan out, and what with the fact Alfa won't comment on it, is all in their favour!

Continuing this saga, I have contacted customer services again, and will contact the press office as well, as I feel that maybe the likes of Auto Express may be interested in the problems we are having, and the reasons for them. Surely they don't want to entertain more bad press?

Originally Posted by Andy G

Continuing this saga, I have contacted customer services again, and will contact the press office as well, as I feel that maybe the likes of Auto Express may be interested in the problems we are having, and the reasons for them. Surely they don't want to entertain more bad press?

.. did you see BBC Watchdog the other week? The Audi TT fraternity got a definite result over the TT's dodgy dash-pod.

Forgot to mention: when I picked it up last week, I mentioned to the manager that I understood that warped discs were something of an endemic problem on GTA's.
This was flatly denied

well, bugger me sideways! ( ) I've been offered the upgrade! And by Alfa UK?? Got the letter this am.

Good work fella!

Alfa did eventually agree to reimburse the dealer for the work they did on mine so perserverance definitely pays off.

Originally Posted by Andy G

well, bugger me sideways! ( ) I've been offered the upgrade! And by Alfa UK?? Got the letter this am.

Nice one Andy.......

I was well set-up when FishBrosAlfa agreed to do mine last Autumn.

KEEP AN EYE OUT for the braided hoses though, I thought they were part of the upgrade

But when I done a full on wheel clean last weekend, by removing each wheel individually, There were no Braided hoses to be seen

I don't believe the braided brake pipes are part of the upgrade at all.

Andy you may want to check with Autodelta if your existing braided pipes can be used with the 330mm kit.

Failing that order a new set of braided pipes for the 330mm kit.
The pipes are cheap, its the fitting that is exepensive, and if they are fitting pipes anyway..

..and then ask your Alfa dealer nicely to use the correct braided pipes when fitting. They do make a difference, especially on winidy roads where feel is very important.

Cheers,
TB

Originally Posted by Foxie

Nice one Andy.......

I was well set-up when FishBrosAlfa agreed to do mine last Autumn.

KEEP AN EYE OUT for the braided hoses though, I thought they were part of the upgrade

But when I done a full on wheel clean last weekend, by removing each wheel individually, There were no Braided hoses to be seen

Excellent, thanks for the replies. The braided pipes fitted are compatible with the larger discs so I'm OK there. But I may ask for better fluid to be put in, would that be of benefit?

nice to be back!
I have the parts on order now, but as I have 17" multi spoke alloys, they need to change my wheels. We're going to 18" multi spokes, and this should be done next week!

Hi everybody!

My name is Sotiris and I own an 75 2.0 t.s. and one 147 2.0. Im from Greece but study in UK.

So...

Everybody knows that the calipers(305 disk) of GTA do not suit the simple 147/156.

But, I heard that the 'new' calipers from the 330 disk, do suit the simple 147/156. Is that true?

Thanx in advance!

Andy,
i'm in the process of getting the upgrade with new wheels as I have the 17" multispokes too.

Problem is i'v just learned today