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Avelingporter



Member Since: 25 Jan 2016
Location: Southampton
Posts: 406

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
110 Brake upgrade
My friend has a 110 USW 2014 which is his business truck. ( lucky s*d also has a D4 commercial and an adventure 90 in orange!!!) He uses it a lot for towing, quite often up to 3.5t. Lot of motorway work to site etc.

He wants to look at a brake upgrade, but does it want to go AP type or similar which need 18" wheels. So what would you recommend for std boost wheels to upgrade the brakes?

Cheers
Douglas
Post #626454 23rd May 2017 8:42pm
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Morepower



Member Since: 08 Jan 2013
Location: Fife, Scotland
Posts: 630

New Zealand 
The Bowler brake upgrade will fit inside the Bowler 16" wheels... You'd have to ask Jon @ Bowler if it would fit with other wheels.... However, At £4200 inc VAT it's not what you'd call a budget option...
The Std System is pretty good however, You just need to keep everything in top condition... I had HEL Performance make me some braided brake lines for the 110 and that improved the pedal feel... I have also rebuilt the brake system in the 30k miles that the 110 has covered as there was a drop off in brake performance during the 3rd year... This was just down to normal wear and tear, However the rear caliper pistons where showing signs of the dreaded rusty pistons... FYI when I rebuilt the brake system I replaced everything, Disk's, Pads, Calipers... All with Genuine LR parts

Hope this helps

Regards

Tim It doesn't matter how bad it is, It can always get worse...

2013 Bowler 110 (Sold)
2016 Bowler 90 Rally Spec (Sold)
Post #626538 24th May 2017 8:06am
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bankz5152



Member Since: 02 Feb 2017
Location: South London/North Kent
Posts: 2178

2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Epsom Green
I would start with fitting new front callipers (depending on age), slotted (not drilled) discs - Should slow down and brake fade and keep the pads in tip top shape (Often towing heavy loads would warrant the upgrade imo) braided lines as mentioned, brand new brake fluid and a full pressure bleed. Then fit some Ferrodo or Blueprint pads and the brakes should be as good as they are going to get in relative standard form.

Other than that youve got Bowler as above for £4k, AP for £3k or Alcon for £2.5k but the last two require 18" wheels, which would also mean new and expensive tyres!

Don't forget Defenders where designed with towing in mind ( to a degree) so the standard system should be well up to the job.
Post #626554 24th May 2017 9:27am
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6300

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
I've heard before the braided hoses make an improvement in terms of pedal feel which in my opinion isn't confidence inspiring in standard form.

It's also been suggested the standard brakes are pretty ok so I guess I need to get some new hoses and fluid on order Smile

good luck in finding the right solution.

please keep us posted on progress Thumbs Up
Post #626561 24th May 2017 9:57am
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Kit



Member Since: 12 Feb 2016
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 1110

United Kingdom 1993 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Scotia Grey
There shouldn't be a problem, if he gets a set of pagid discs/pads + new fluid and braided hoses and there's still a problem... then either the master cylinder or servo are not doing their job. 1993 200 Tdi 90 CSW
1956 Series 1 Hard-top
1958 Series 1 Soft-top
Post #626614 24th May 2017 4:13pm
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YOLO110



Member Since: 14 Feb 2015
Location: Perth Oz and Stansted UK
Posts: 1645

Australia 
The only reason why you would want a brake upgrade on a Defender is... because big brakes look cool! Cool

The standard brakes are more than adequate I believe, even if you are towing 3.5T down Mt Everest! YOLO... You Only Live Once...
Post #626675 24th May 2017 7:30pm
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Avelingporter



Member Since: 25 Jan 2016
Location: Southampton
Posts: 406

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
Thanks for the replies. Seems good pads, new fluids and braided hoses are the way to go.

Thx , Douglas
Post #626734 25th May 2017 12:44am
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zsd-puma



Member Since: 09 Aug 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 2720

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
It also helps if the brakes on the trailer(s) serviced. A fully loaded 3.5t trailer with poor brakes is going to be a pig to stop no matter how good the brakes on the tow car are.
Post #626787 25th May 2017 9:43am
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Thon



Member Since: 22 Nov 2015
Location: Salisbury Plain
Posts: 696

United Kingdom 
If you keep the standard set-up in good order, and as ZSD says, have a decent set of brakes on the trailer, plus driving within speed limits I don't think he'll go far wrong. I see so many people towing way too fast for the loads they're pulling it's scary.

On a side note, I had to refurb all of my calipers and it turned out that Zeus Stainless pistons were cheaper than genuine, and if what I hear is correct, genuine parts aren't all that they used to be.
Post #626844 25th May 2017 2:09pm
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bankz5152



Member Since: 02 Feb 2017
Location: South London/North Kent
Posts: 2178

2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Epsom Green
I wasnt going to bother with new pistons and seals, was just going to buy a pair of new callipers for £80 cheaper and much less work!
Post #626847 25th May 2017 2:35pm
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Thon



Member Since: 22 Nov 2015
Location: Salisbury Plain
Posts: 696

United Kingdom 
Definitely cheaper and less work I agree, but as I say, the quality of the brakes has dropped significantly. My old '84 90 hard top was on its original brake calipers after 23 years and still fine, the Puma's managed just 10 and were toast.
Post #626849 25th May 2017 2:50pm
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bankz5152



Member Since: 02 Feb 2017
Location: South London/North Kent
Posts: 2178

2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Epsom Green
Poor show!!
Post #626850 25th May 2017 3:07pm
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Thon



Member Since: 22 Nov 2015
Location: Salisbury Plain
Posts: 696

United Kingdom 
Bloody right poor show - they weren't just a bit flaky, they were ruined, and it had done maybe 35K at that point. I was well peeved but mine had spent most of its life standing in a lean-to and inactivity also creates its own problems, of which this was just one.

I've heard that all manner of genuine parts are affected by this general quality deterioration, from drive flanges to brakes to door seals, and these are just the things I have come across in the last 18 months.
Post #626954 26th May 2017 8:57am
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