Need help - fitting ECS Stage 3 brakes

J

Jenno007

Registered User
Joined
Feb 8, 2014
Messages
1,150
Reaction score
142
Points
63
Location
NULL
Hi Guys,

Attempted to fit my Stage 3 ECS front brake kit today -
http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-Golf_IV--1.8T/ES262958/

I'm having a problem, the brake disc is hitting just above the Control Arm. I have tried loosening the 3 nuts and knocking it all the way in, also tried grinding a little off but I don't want to grind too much off.. I'm thinking of moving the subframe across next, but I thought I would ask here if there were any tips and tricks before I do that.


It's hitting just above the three bolts in this picture
May09e.jpg


Another picture - it's hitting between the dust shield and the thing attaching to the Control Arm
TTballjointRWview.jpg


I should have taken pictures but I left the workshop frustrated today, if I still haven't fixed it by tomorrow I'll take some pictures to show the exact point of contact.


If I haven't been clear enough let me know and I'll try explain it better
 
WIA86qU.png


Circled the area it's hitting. What should I be adjusting to try get a bit of clearance?
 
Picture stolen from <tuffty>'s build thread

KdtmU9K.png


Circled point of contact.. Any suggestions on what I should adjust to get some clearance
 
badger5 said:
not golf 4 in pictures? mk5 pctured
Click to expand...

yeah I was just trying to google to find pictures showing the area where it is contacting. Refer to my latest post with the picture from Tuffty's thread, it shows exactly where it's hitting.

What would you suggest I try adjust?
 
If I raised the front of the car (it's currently quite low on coilovers) would that create any more clearance?
 
The discs may be the wrong offset for the hubs. Can you confirm which kit you bought off ECS (The ECS kit number on the box not off the site) or did you get them second hand?
 
Hmm I have the box at the workshop.

Invoice has the following: ECS-ES262958

The top of the disc lines up with the caliper perfectly though so I think the kit is correct
 
What's the back plate?

I've removed the dust shield if that's what you mean
 
As said above... Looks like an offset issue... Bells and brackets will be paired to the offset hence why calipers line up so to get clearance bell needs to be shallower and bracket offset outward to compensate...

The bells from pics I have seen look deep offset compared to others... I assume they did this to allow clearance for the large caliper on std wheels

<tuffty/>
 
So could I try use a washer on the bracket and then the same size washer on all the wheel studs in front of the disk? Any issues with doing this?

It's for a vw golf GTI mk4, maybe the front suspension is different?
 
ahh crap.. using the parts guide on their website ECS say it doesn't fit a mk1 Audi TT :\

The offset must be different to suit a golf mk4 (I presumed it would also fit a S3 because of this).

How dodgy would it be to put a washer on each wheel stud before the disk, and then on the bracket?
 
What an incredibly **** kit!

There is no offset difference at the hub between mk4 and TT/s3. The only difference is the length of the lower part of the hub.

The Ecs kit obviously uses a disc with a huge positive offset to get the calipers inwards to adi wheel clearance. It must sit further inwards than the bottom of the hub, so the larger lower portion s3 hub hits the disc.

Nothing you can do IMO. It's plain wrong and a **** design.
 
Sorry for the multiple posts, I'm just Devo they don't fit correctly.

If I put 1mm washers behind the disc to help fix the problem, would this affect the braking performance too much? Having the discs not perfectly in the centre of the caliper? It seems like a shifty solution

Because the way the brackets are created, to offset the washers behind the discs I would have to grind down the brackets, which I don't know a way to so that accurately without specialised machinery

Urgh I'm really frustrated by this
 
I'll try modify the brackets myself and make some spacers for the bells to stick out further. Cheers for the help.

How important is it for the disc to be in the centre of the caliper? Say it's 1mm out, is that a huge problem?
 
New pads won't fit. Much more than mm and you'll be hitting the insides if the caliper too.
 
Brackets will need machining on mount face to move them outboard... Do not use washers on bell though...

<tuffty/>
 
The pads don't have much meat on them so I think they might fit. Obviously don't want to hit the inside of the caliper. I was more worried about any balance kind of issues. I'll try work some magic tomorrow and pray they fit.

Cheers for the help
 
<tuffty/> said:
Brackets will need machining on mount face to move them outboard... Do not use washers on bell though...

<tuffty/>
Click to expand...

Ahh why the no to the washers? I've got some 2mm mild steel, I was thinking of making a spacer so it's one piece rather than individual washers. Then getting the face of the bracket machined down to match... Or use a file lol
 
Their kits generally have different discs for the AWD models so sounds like you have discs for a FWD hub or vice-versa.
 
Bit of an update guys. I grinded away about 5mm of the hub (still more than enough left!) and the brakes now fit perfectly and don't catch at all. My subframe is slightly over to one side so I'm going to get an alignment done and get them to put the subframe right in the middle of the car so I should get the same clearance on both sides.

Waiting for my adjustable rear tie arms to arrive before I get an alignment done though.
 
Subframes alignment or geometry will make no difference what so ever to the issue you have been having mate.
 
Hmm yeah now I look at the picture again, no matter how much camber I run the disc should keep the same distance from the bit I've grinded.

11050640_10206711203925299_8701439523639152486_n.jpg


Would you agree that no matter what I do the suspension the disc shouldn't move any closer/further away from the bit I've grinded away?
 
It won't.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jenno007
I hope there isn't any steps where you have done your grinding creating stress raisers and weakening the upright

<tuffty/>
 
there is one tiny step that you can probably see. Would I be best to smooth it so it's perfectly flat?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S3 Chris
ECS Stage 3 'Porsche Big Reds' Consumables
Replies
10
Views
2K
s3_tny
s3_tny
I
ECS Stage 5
Replies
31
Views
1K
RichA3Turbo
RichA3Turbo
mark_S3
Need some help..... Brakes
Replies
2
Views
604
mark_S3
mark_S3
J
AAHH brakes need help
Replies
7
Views
955
jojo
jojo
P
Bleeding brakes/ECS kit
Replies
17
Views
889
Khufu
Khufu
Top
Back