As I've written before, the original Dunlop brakes with the original pad and disc materials, are very good. If you push hard on the pedal, you can lock the wheels (with 185 section radials). If you are swapping to much stickier tyres, then upgrades may be useful.

A more realistic or urgent reason for an upgrade is to make maintenance easier. Original pads wear ridiculously quickly and if more than half the material has gone the pads spread and are a pain to extract from the caliper.

 

Thanks for the info. I didn't know about the pad wear.

 

The wear isn't catastrophic, but, when I was using my Mk2 as a daily driver, I changed the pads every year. Compared with modern systems, it's frequent, but it's part of the involvement that makes old cars fun.

 

Peter. I think you will find the pad situation has changed. They now last very well & don't spread. I think that was an asbestos containing pad issue. Our club members say they just go on & on & no apparent dust. No spreading. Might be harder on the disc/rotor. Most Mintex, some Girling.

 

That's good information. I was going to ask how many km's on a set of pads.

 

Indeed, that's a great improvement. I know the risk is limited, but working with asbestos pads always made me uncomfortable. I'd accept changing disks every few years as a cost.

 

All the upgrades you are thinking of I have done and fully recommend. They do not take away any visible originality but make the car more reliable. We have talked about additional fans recently in another post. Kenlow fans are like giving someone with a broken leg a walking stick. It helps them walk but it does not cure the broken leg. If you have not read the previous topics about cleaning your cooling system out please do so. I will not repeat it all here but to say cleaning your cooling system out will do more good than an additional fan.

 

Thank you. I will follow up on cleaning the cooling system.