Brembo brakes on Leon Cupra ST R

JulianF

Active Member
Mar 26, 2023
12
2
Hi there,
Any pointers regarding new discs and pads for the front. Trying to reduce the cost if possible. Or, is it just a case of suck it up!
Many thanks in advance
JulianF
 

Seastormer

Cupra Leon VZ2 300/CBF1000
Apr 25, 2014
5,033
709
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Edinburgh (Scotland)
Hi there,
Any pointers regarding new discs and pads for the front. Trying to reduce the cost if possible. Or, is it just a case of suck it up!
Many thanks in advance
JulianF
Welcome to SCN, try searching/posting in the SEAT car forums in the Leon threads for the model you have. Not all users read this newbies section.
 

Damo H

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I believe the cheapest option is in fact the standard disc.

BUT they're not great due to the fact despite being vented directionally, only one unit exists, so you ended up with one side running hotter as the venting is wrong directionally for that side. (Why they didn't just make the internal veins non directional we'll never know).

Anyway I think longer term, you're better off getting different pads and discs and you may very well find they last longer despite the extra cost of the non OEM ones.

I think when I was looking Reyland Motorsport where the ones to go to at £875:


I know Progressive Parts a site sponsor have since been supplying some made by DBA, but they're not much cheaper:


But I'd go with PP if I still had the car now, as they'd looked after my cars (when they were VAG).
 
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JulianF

Active Member
Mar 26, 2023
12
2
I believe the cheapest option is in fact the standard disc.

BUT they're not great due to the fact despite being vented directionally, only one unit exists, so you ended up with one side running hotter as the venting is wrong directionally for that side. (Why they didn't just make the internal veins non directional we'll never know).

Anyway I think longer term, you're better off getting different pads and discs and you may very well find they last longer despite the extra cost of the non OEM ones.

I think when I was looking Reyland Motorsport where the ones to go to at £875:


I know Progressive Parts a site sponsor have since been supplying some made by DBA, but they're not much cheaper:


BUt I'd go with PP if I still had the car now, as they'd looked after my cars (when they were VAG).
Thank you Damo H
 
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Damo H

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Just realised this thread is in Introductions section, moved to the Mk3 Forum as you'll get more replies :)
 

andylong

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Jan 21, 2021
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Standard discs are not directional, some aftermarket drilled slotted or vented are.
Pads matter more than discs in my experience.
 
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Damo H

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Standard discs are not directional, some aftermarket drilled slotted or vented are.
Pads matter more than discs in my experience.
The 370mm discs that come with the Brembo's on the Cupra R ST (and Cupra R, Carbon edition and performance/Sub8 pack) are directional.

Its just that there is only 1 disc you can buy, so its direction is wrong for one side of the car.
 

SuperV8

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May 30, 2019
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The 370mm discs that come with the Brembo's on the Cupra R ST (and Cupra R, Carbon edition and performance/Sub8 pack) are directional.

Its just that there is only 1 disc you can buy, so its direction is wrong for one side of the car.
Common on many of the RS/AMG/M's etc I'm afraid.
Really bugs me - can only be a cost saving justification, using the same part number for both sides.
I had one 'hypothesis': most tracks run a clockwise direction (in Europe) - so the front left brake will see the highest thermal loads (due to weight transfer) - and I believe these directional discs are working 'correct' on the left side. If you race on an anti-clockwise track your front right disc may get hot!

Having said that, the 370mm brembo discs are huge and way over specked for the Cupra used on the road.
 
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andylong

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Jan 21, 2021
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Or it might not make much difference which way the wheel rotates. It is a centrifugal fan after all.
Ventilated discs are about more surface area perhaps than actual airflow.
 

SuperV8

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May 30, 2019
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Or it might not make much difference which way the wheel rotates. It is a centrifugal fan after all.
Ventilated discs are about more surface area perhaps than actual airflow.
That it correct for a regular vented disc; the internal veins are straight so are not directional - BUT we are referring to vented vein discs with CURVED internal veins, so their direction changes their air flow, making them directionally sensitive.
 

andylong

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Jan 21, 2021
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Yes this may be true, but a centrifugal fan is a pressure driven device, the lower pressure of the outer part of the disc will still draw air through regardless of direction of rotation. Such fans are made with blades that are forward facing rearward facing and radial. All of which flow air to the outside.
My point was that it may not make much difference to airflow, particularly at low rates of rotation and the frankly awful performance of a fan made like this without any ducting and so not matter at all.
 

SuperV8

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May 30, 2019
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Yes this may be true, but a centrifugal fan is a pressure driven device, the lower pressure of the outer part of the disc will still draw air through regardless of direction of rotation. Such fans are made with blades that are forward facing rearward facing and radial. All of which flow air to the outside.
My point was that it may not make much difference to airflow, particularly at low rates of rotation and the frankly awful performance of a fan made like this without any ducting and so not matter at all.
Centrifugal fans with forward facing blades are used when pressure rather than flow is to be optimised.
Brake discs need air flow for cooling. Obviously only applicable at high speeds. On the road you will never see these speeds so agree on road cars you won't notice any difference.
Porsche and other supercars are all using handed/directional/curved vein discs where the veins face backwards.
 

Damo H

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Common on many of the RS/AMG/M's etc I'm afraid.
Really bugs me - can only be a cost saving justification, using the same part number for both sides.
I had one 'hypothesis': most tracks run a clockwise direction (in Europe) - so the front left brake will see the highest thermal loads (due to weight transfer) - and I believe these directional discs are working 'correct' on the left side. If you race on an anti-clockwise track your front right disc may get hot!

Having said that, the 370mm brembo discs are huge and way over specked for the Cupra used on the road.
I know, we've had this discussion more than once :D

Or it might not make much difference which way the wheel rotates. It is a centrifugal fan after all.
Ventilated discs are about more surface area perhaps than actual airflow.
I know @SuperV8 has answered in a different way, however there is evidence of the Audi RS cars being taken on track and cooking one side of their brake setup. Faster and potentially heavier cars, but its still doable in a Cupra.

I have spoken with an RS6 owner who had that very thing happen, needed a new disc and pad, but of course you shouldn't really only do one side. So very expensive bill.
 

andylong

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Jan 21, 2021
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It's certainly true airflow is optimised with correct flow.
Some performance brakes Inc brembo do away with vanes and go for pillars to increase surface area, which is why vented discs happened in the first place.
I think it's application specific, higher rotation speeds will alter the balance between radiation and forced convection.
 
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