Testimonial

Fast Car Magazine - PB Brakes Review

FAST PROJECTS

MIDGE'S TT 225

IT'S TIME TO GET THE STARTING AND THE STOPPING SORTED...

Well it's been a long road, but my engine is built. She's in the bay and everything is bolted back together. I'm so close to the start up now I can literally taste the super unleaded and I'm understandably nervous. Very nervous.

Over the last few days I've been on the case ordering all the very best fluids I'll need to get her running. So while I was waiting for those to arrive there was one last big thing on my to-do list - fit my monster front brakes.

The truth is, even when the car was mapped at 260-odd bhp before I didn't trust the stock brakes. It's simple tuning rules right? Put up the power - get better stoppers. With a brand new engine build and a stonking hybrid blower I knew I'd need something a bit more meaty up-front. So I ordered this awesome 6-pot kit from PB months ago. The big box has been sitting there in the corner of the workshop just looking at me. I just couldn't resist it any longer.

Now I haven't had a set of PBs before, but I've heard nothing but good things. I know our Glenn has had a few sets over the years (and raved about them) and plenty of people say you won't get a better kit for the money. I'm guessing that's because they come straight from their factory and not through a dealer. That's why the price is so good - normally kits like this can cost double. They've won more than a few awards in the past couple of years and I also like the fact that they do a bigger range of fitments and anodised or powder-coated calliper colours than anyone else. Being a bit of a traditional chap I've gone for bright Porsche-like red.

Anyway, I basically measured up the biggest set I can fit under my wheels with their handy template and, as it turns out, that was this massive 6-pot 345mm kit (I kinda wish I was running 20s so I could bang on their gargantuan 405mm 8-pot kit though). The quality is spot on and absolutely everything you need is there in the box, right down to the hardcore braided lines, threadlocker and even a little bottle of calliper touch-up paint - a nice, er, touch that.

Fitting is pretty easy too and they look so good. I'm saving some pennies for a rear Mt to match up. I can't wait to get these out on the road and bedded in so I can really see what they can do.

Back to the engine and I've had the long, laborious process of filling stuff up and checking for leaks. My tip of the day would be to do each job one at a time so you don't get confused and put the wrong fluids in the wrong places. That way you won't be a dickhead like me and dump a load of power-steering fluid in the coolant (oh yes he did - Jules), and end up having to flush it all through numerous times. With the coolant filled (three times), power steering and clutch/brakes bled the last couple of jobs were probably the most crucial.

First up, filling the gearbox with the only fluid good enough to do the job, Red Line MT-90. I got mine from the guys at Old Hall Performance - they're UK distributors and they were very helpful in sending over the right amount. Filling an Audi box is a challenge in itself so you really don't want to run out.

Secondly, the engine oil I've gone for Millers Competition Running In mineral oil. It's basically the best money can buy... 

 ... and it's still only 26 quid for five litres. Which is good because over the running-in period I'll be using at least 10 litres of the stuff, followed by their awesome super-high-end Nanotech Synthetic stuff to keep everything in line. Engine oil is probably the most important thing to research when you're doing a build like this and, after doing plenty I'm more than confident this stuff will get me where I need to be.

As for the start up? Well I've cranked it over with no plugs, checked I have good oil pressure (which I have) and refitted all the plugs and coil packs. All I need to do now is turn the key and pray it doesn't blow-up in my face!

 

THIS MONTH

PARTS

PB Monster 6-pot kit .... £929

Millers Motorsport Running In Oil, 5 litres (x2) .... £52

Red Line MT-90 Gear Oil (3 litres) .... £55.50

Total .... £1,036.50

 

Contacts

PB Brakes – www.pbbrakes.com

Millers Oil – www.millersoils.co.uk

Old Hall Performance – www.oldhallperformance.com

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