1.8 TwinSpark Brake upgrade - Any Suggestions?

So not this month as I got my exhaust being fitted this Friday and my Skirts should be here very soon (I hope) but looking ahead after this months MoT I'm looking at a brake upgrade.

Probally lookin to replace both pads and disc's all round, is there any point in going for flash looking drilled or grooved discs? or just standard disc's and upgraded pads?

Not looking for a size increase ie calliper changes, just simple swap for slightly better bits

Suggested brands and products would be greatly welcomed.

What you running and are you ahppy with that setup compared to the standard setup?

I have Red Dot 20 groove discs and Ferodo DS2500 pads and am very impressed with this set up

When it comes to changing discs though, i will probably go for standard discs with ferodo ds2500 pads.

So the disc's in all honesty are more for show, correct?

As the way I understand it, both grooved and drilled are to disapate heat to combat brake fade, but unless your really track bound or very fast road they are not worth the extra money unless its purely for looks.

Don't wee get discount on Red dot products?

grooved discs can help a lot with brake squeal, and with "warping" issues. I put the warping in brackets because that's not really what's going on, but the symptoms are similar.

You don't need many grooves for this effect though, something like Brembo Max discs will be fine for this purpose...

I have Brembo max disks on the front end of my 2.0 156 with mintex pads and it stops much better than it ever did on the standard set up.

I was looking to upgrade from my standard brakes a few years ago, and around that time Auto Italia helpfully did a group test of numerous different brake & pad combinations.

To cut a long story short they found the best ones (as fitted to a 156 Twin Spark - can't remember if it was a 1.8 or 2.0) were the Red Dot six groove discs and Fast Road pads. I seem to remember they reported that too many grooves would just eat the pads up with no discernible improvement in braking performance.

They were reasonably priced too so I bought some and have been very happy with them. Only recently changed the front discs and pads so they do seem to last well.

Things may have moved on in the last five years but I can definitely recommend this set-up. I was quite surprised to find that the front discs were solid and not ventilated though; what were Alfa thinking of?

So forgetting the discount from red dot, would people recommend Red dot or Brembo discs?

What year is your 1.8TS?
Early ones had small solid (non-vented) front discs.
Later ones had the same vented front discs as the 2.0TS & 2.5V6.

Very easy to upgrade.
You just need the complete calipers from a vented disc car.
Plus the new discs & pads obviously.

Yep mine will be the early 99-01 model with the solid disc's

Not sure I want to change callipers to be honest, Id rather just swap standard equipment for slightly better bits.

So basically its a straight swap then? I bought a brake upgrade for my VTS which used bigger 206 GTi disc's callipers and pads but never got around to fitting them and they need grinding at the bottom due to clearance issues

Originally Posted by 156_TSpark_Boy

Yep mine will be the early 99-01 model with the solid disc's

So basically its a straight swap then?

Same as mine; a straight swap for the Red Dots. A big improvement over the standard brakes.

The vented calipers are a straight swap.
No complications at all.


I wouldn't bother trying to make the solid setup better.
Upgrade to vented.

Originally Posted by mr.orange

I have Red Dot 20 groove discs and Ferodo DS2500 pads and am very impressed with this set up.

I had exactly the same set up on the front of my 1.8 Twinny.

Originally Posted by David C

What year is your 1.8TS? Early ones had small solid (non-vented) front discs. Later ones had the same vented front discs as the 2.0TS & 2.5V6.

Very easy to upgrade. You just need the complete calipers from a vented disc car. Plus the new discs & pads obviously.

I would agree with that (obviously, as DC is always right! ).

Get a set of calipers from a 2.0 car, with vented discs, then buy some new, good quality standard vented discs (£40) and some good quality fast road pads. I use Ferodo DS Performance pads (£80) and prefer them to the DS2500s I had on the Twinny.

I would highly recommend the vented disc upgrade with the Red Dot six-groove discs/pads. The solid discs on the early 1.8 is a total scandal, totally insufficient for even a mildly 'sporty' drive (and typical of Alfa to admit their mistake and upgrade the discs on later cars). The solid brakes on my 1998 1.8 were total crap. David C is so right, upgrade to at least vented, it really is worthwhile.

Might look into that.

Thanks for all your views

Upgrade to vented, standard discs and DS2500s or similar.

No point trying to polish a turd with the solid disc set-up IMO.

I spoke to Red Dot yesterday regarding upgrading the brakes on my 147, they recommended the 6 Groove discs and fast road pads for my use.
After ringing around they're the cheapest by miles. I think I'll even get the to fit 'em.