Activa Brakes....

Chris570 · Post by **Chris570** » 02 Aug 2011, 12:53

ok, so as most of you will know i am now activa'ted....

mine is a late mk1 so i'm assure by Mr Jim that it'll have the smaller brakes 266mm? Anyway, the point is it feels as if somebody has changed the brake pads for more eco friendly wooden ones as the pedal feel is awful and the brakes just don't seem to have any real bite.

I'm comparing this to the HDi which has the 288mm discs but really, should there be that much difference?

what would be nice is if someone here could tell me that the big brakes will fit on these hubs (please)

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 02 Aug 2011, 12:59

Obviously its depends what pads are fitted etc but when I had an Activa, a V6 and HDi 110 the brakes on the Activa felt noticeably poorer. If you're looking to fit larger brakes then you can fit a 288mm set up but I think you'll need the caliper carriers as well as the calipers and disc's etc. Not sure about the hoses.

Chris570 · Post by **Chris570** » 02 Aug 2011, 13:09

as long as it all bolts up to the hub ok i've no issue getting the required parts (he says hopefully)

should just be able to get HDi or V6 stuff in regards to hoses

handyman · Post by **handyman** » 02 Aug 2011, 14:14

The largest size disc, caliper and carrier will be off a car fitted with 283mm discs. Hoses are the same on all cars. The calipers are Activa specific as they have a larger pivot pin than the standard 54 or 57mm calipers, so you'll also need the carriers.

Can't say I've ever seen an Activa fitted with 266mm discs.

If you wanted to fit the later Bosch system, 288mm, then you will also need to change the hubs as well.

I would suggest fitting a set of braided steel brake hoses and having the calipers vacuum bleed, as the design of the caliper is such that an air pocket can exist and cause that spongy feeling.

Other things worth checking are the quality of the LHM and the condition of the accumulator sphere, as these have a marked effect on brake performance.

H

KevMayer · Post by **KevMayer** » 02 Aug 2011, 15:21

I've just checked on Citroen Service and the 2.0 turbo saloon and estate mark 1 should have 283 mm dia discs.

I changed the discs on my N reg Activa (when I owned it) and they weren't 266, I'm sure they were 283 mm.

Chris570 · Post by **Chris570** » 02 Aug 2011, 15:54

ok must be my mistake i thought the smaller discs were 266 not 283, so either way the difference between 288 and 283 should be sod all in brake feel surely?

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 02 Aug 2011, 16:13

Chris570 wrote:ok must be my mistake i thought the smaller discs were 266 not 283, so either way the difference between 288 and 283 should be sod all in brake feel surely?

In theory yes, but in my experience of driving Xantia's with the different sized disc's I'd say no.

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 02 Aug 2011, 17:54

My Activa runs 283 the same as the XM, same callipers too as i had to fit an xm one to the Activa and the Activa brakes are much better by a substantial margin, the XM is running bendix pads though which are utter rubbish, I got EBC for the Activa and there is no dust and they feel superb.

My point is the discs and pads branding makes a huge difference when it comes to brakes.

D

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 02 Aug 2011, 19:13

Mine is also a S1 Activa and the brakes are very good I find, the feel and bite is sharp. In fact the first time I drove it I stopped way before junctions

It does have the spring still in the pedal too ...

Mine has pretty new Citroen discs and (I think) Bendix pads up front, they seem good and they work well, even when giving the car murder I have not had any problems. They do seem to give off a lot of brake dust, but I can live with that.

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 02 Aug 2011, 20:25

Not able to fully read the thread but i have some big activa brakes for sale if anyone wants them?