The D3 Finally has "good" brakes

[matti4556]

Finally - I have good pedal feel in my 2009 D3.
Fitted new pads and rotors.
Got the Akebono pads from the US of A (eBay seller trueblue, I think ~rich~ put us onto them in another thread?) and DBA 4x4 Survival series T3 slotted rotors from 'straya and fitted them all up last weekend.
After 3 days of use (and probably sufficiently bedded-in now) I can say its the best pedal feel (and stopping power) I have had in this car so far.
The only other brakes I ever felt better were my Dad's old XB falcon where you could lock it up using your big toe! (for those who had an XB Falcon you would know what I mean)
Hopefully the stories of "low dust" are true and my wheels can look good between washes too!

If you are considering this combination I would say go for it.

Cheers, Matti

[Uberdisco]

Hi matti any links would be greatly appreciated 😊

[DiscoJeffster]

It’s interesting. I prefer a harder pedal where I can better modulate the brake pedal pressure - but then I quite liked my Westfield with its pedal box and no booster at all so I’m a little different there. I had a Golf GTI Mk5 at one point and its brakes were way too boosted and needed tip toes to use. You got used to it, but modulation was harder to manage.

[matti4556]

- but then I quite liked my Westfield with its pedal box and no booster at all so I’m a little different there.

Drove my brother's Westfield a few years ago - i quite enjoy feeling the steering get light under acceleration!. It had a Toyota twin cam 1.8 litre if i remember correctly - oh, and genuine wheelspin in third gear puts a big grin on your face too but its brakes weren't as good as the D3 is now. There is sufficient feel for brake modulation in the D3 - I'm quite enjoying it under brakes now. And when you give the pedal some it really pulls up.

[matti4556]

Hi matti any links would be greatly appreciated 😊

Akebono front pads for D3 - Akebono EUR1098 Front Ceramic Brake Pads | eBay
Akebono rear pads for D3 - Akebono EUR1099 Rear Ceramic Brake Pads | eBay

DBA 4000 series T3 slotted front rotors for D3 2.7 diesel - DBA42090S DBA 4000 Series T3 Slotted Brake Rotor

DBA 4000 series T3 slotted rear rotors for D3 2.7 diesel - DBA42091S DBA 4000 Series T3 Slotted Brake Rotor

Please don't rely on my links to be accurate for your vehicle - always re-check part numbers for your vehicle application.
Also used the blue coloured Bendix silicone grease of the slide pins and pad ears. The Akebonos have the synthetic anti squeal pads fitted to the backs so didn't need lube for that surface although the pads came with some moly brake grease - I recall it was called "gotcha-grease in the Military, so I didn't use it due to the black mess that usually ends up everywhere except where you need it - if you know what I mean.

Cheers - Matti

[entropy]

Hopefully the stories of "low dust" are true and my wheels can look good between washes too!

sigh - I dream of no brake dust.