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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5729
2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
I Like Old Skool wrote:
Right guys. Not been in on this thread from the start but......

Standard Defender brakes are pretty awesome without fooking around on 'upgrades' when they are working correctly. I'm running 33" tyres so pushing brakes pretty hard.

I have an early 300tdi with discs all-round. Twice in 10yrs I have found the brakes lacking. First time was due to a cracked servo losing vacuum. 2nd time just recently was due to brake pulling and found a leaking caliper had ruined brake pads on one side with fluid contamination. Solved with Britpart S/S pistons and genuine seals caliper rebuild,

Always run Mintex or Delco standard pads.

Just for context, my standard tune 300tdi runs like a dream, often easily hits 85mph (like every week when commuting) and handles/brakes predictably with OEM rubber bushes etc. You really don't need to do much more, Landrover got it right first time so if you are having to fit 'upgraded' parts to achieve safe braking/handling there is clearly something else wrong and you should look at fixing that first!


We, I think not just me, are not after Super Mega brakes, just good brakes.

I could not lock my wheels running mud terrain tyres.

I have had defenders before, and the brakes have been good, and fine for what I use it for.

But on my current Defender they are not, and I think that is what this topic is discussing. I had brakes that I really wasn’t happy with so did the basics. Bled, check callipers, and all that stuff. I found I had some rusty pistons on callipers. So to avoid future issues I upgraded to new callipers that had SS pistons fitted. Which I had used on other Defenders. Whilst doing a calliper replacement I chose to fit new discs, and obviously new pads to complete the job. Still unhappy with the brakes I have so have gone through many bleeding procedures, in all variations.. I have tested / checked servo and all ok. I have removed tested, and adjusted the master cylinder. I have replaced the bearings on all four hubs. Eventually deciding to just replace the other callipers with the same SS piston, and new discs and pads This time choosing the “power spec” pads. For the first time I have ok brakes.

But possibly the LOF pads are the issue? And that is what I feel we are discussing here.

I don’t want / need mega brakes. But I do want brakes I can trust.

It’s fine for people to say standard is fine, but I’m running standard callipers (but with SS pistons). Standard size discs, and LOF pads. Nothing fancy, nothing super.

To use that are chatting on this post don’t have ok standard brakes, and still don’t have ok brakes even though we have tried different solutions. The potential end of this is that possibly it is a pad issue.
Post #1050291 30th Oct 2024 6:47pm
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mark1200



Member Since: 09 Oct 2011
Location: peterborough
Posts: 75
England 2004 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
Just to echo what Landy Andy has said i chose to get the Lof brake kit as it was a lot cheaper than genuine landrover parts ( the green oval tax )
In my case it was the Lof pads that were not working as they should have and a change to Ebc green stuff pads have a huge and dramatic improvment.
My brakes are as good as standard but maybe its in my head but i wonder if there just a little better lol
Post #1050342 31st Oct 2024 2:14pm
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Fossil



Member Since: 23 Aug 2015
Location: Bolton
Posts: 16
United Kingdom 1997 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Coniston Green
Maybe the same issue but the brakes on mine (300tdi 90) were fine on gentle stops but an emergency stop needed a massive push and they lacked 'bite'. The power assistance seemed to be there but maxed out on a hard stop. The calipers had been rebuilt with new seals and had stainless pistons, LOF performance pads. You could feel the pedal was really hard, so not a hydraulic issue. The vacuum pump was new and measured fine (.65 bar). So I decided the servo was faulty, and because of our age we need that power assistance! When I took it off I found that there was slight rusting of the servo within the cavity at the back of the master cylinder, and it had disturbed the O ring that seals the two together. It was not visible from the exterior. So I guess there was a small leak (by then I had bought the LOF upgrade which has made a massive difference).
Post #1051771 14th Nov 2024 7:43pm
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Naks



Member Since: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Stellenbosch, ZA
Posts: 2645
South Africa 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Alpine White
Interesting reading this thread, as lately I'm feeling that my Puma could do with a braking upgrade: I have the BAS remap and I drive like a hooligan Rolling Eyes

Would just replacing the OEM pads with the EBC Green stuff provide any added braking performance? --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
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Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ
Post #1054559 13th Dec 2024 10:09am
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Zed



Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3316
United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Standard brakes work just fine on even the most highly tuned Puma, we are only talking 190bhp after all. For longevity you could swap for stainless pistons but that won’t improve performance. Braided hoses and upgraded pads are helpful especially if you tow a lot and you could always use motorsport brake fluid dot 5.1.
The truth is Defender brakes are actually pretty decent when set up correctly. WARNING.
This post may contain sarcasm.

Last edited by Zed on 13th Dec 2024 5:04pm. Edited 2 times in total
Post #1054564 13th Dec 2024 10:33am
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mark1200



Member Since: 09 Oct 2011
Location: peterborough
Posts: 75
England 2004 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
My brake system was 20 years old and had 90,000 miles on them so i got really good use out of them.
I would have changed them and used genuine land rover kit but i chose the Lof kit as it was less cost and lets be honest a brake disc is just a brake disc unless your paying mega money and going carbon fiber ect.
The Lof pads just did not work for me so that's why i changed to Ebc green stuff and now my brakes are as good as how land rover intended.
I realise that the Ebc green stuff are a softer compound and will not last as long but in my case that is not really an issue.
Post #1054578 13th Dec 2024 10:56am
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