E46 brakes lack bite

After driving my wife's passat on and off for the past few months I feel my en brakes lack any sort of bite at all.
They stop the car with no fuss and the pedal feels fine, no sinking.
Rear pads textar about a year or so old.
Front pads mintex at least 5/6 years since I replaced then but plenty of material still on them(6-7mm)

Fluid was changed 2/3 years ago, brakes bled last year when I replaced rear pipe. No leaks, fluid level not dropping.

Am I looking at a dodgy master cylinder? Or is it just how they are?
Am I just unfairly comparing them to a more modern brake setup?
Do pads expire with age?

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Originally Posted by John_D

After driving my wife's passat on and off for the past few months I feel my en brakes lack any sort of bite at all.
They stop the car with no fuss and the pedal feels fine, no sinking.
Rear pads textar about a year or so old.
Front pads mintex at least 5/6 years since I replaced then but plenty of material still on them(6-7mm)

Fluid was changed 2/3 years ago, brakes bled last year when I replaced rear pipe. No leaks, fluid level not dropping.

Am I looking at a dodgy master cylinder? Or is it just how they are?
Am I just unfairly comparing them to a more modern brake setup?
Do pads expire with age?

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it would be worth replacin the front pads anyhow, i got a set of mintex for about 30 quid, the brakes in my e46 are rock solid and as good as any new car imo

All vag brakes feel like that , i have the same feeling on my e60 , fluid and pads ,rotors changed in last 3 months , all ATE , maybe it's just the vag setup ? And i whould change the front pads just because of all the hot/cold cycle in over 5 years , maybe that's an issue for the pads

Even herself 's old golf felt better on the breaks than my e36 just different I guess

Doubt braided lines would help?

Brakes on e36 are poo compared to the Skoda ;)

I've a set of e46 M3 discs, and braided lines here, would they be an improvement ;)

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Originally Posted by Chrispyfish

Doubt braided lines would help?

Brakes on e36 are poo compared to the Skoda ;)

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Im not sure they would to be honest, as its just the initial bite and not when the pressure is on. but I will check the hoses for cracks and other nasties when I get a chance.

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Originally Posted by Nidgeweasel

I've a set of e46 M3 discs, and braided lines here, would they be an improvement ;)

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Id say they would alright, unfortunately ///M brakes on a Non M are not a simple swap.

I`m prob gonna look out for the larger caliper carriers from a 325/328 and upgrade to 300mm discs and new pads...
cheap and cheerful upgrade considering i`ll prob be needing new discs anyway.

Will 330i calipers bolt on they look savage amd definitely increase stopping power [emoji41]

Yeah they would but then I'd have to buy new calipers too, the 328i 300mm upgrade is way cheaper as it uses the same calipers as the 318i :D

what was the gold paint you used Gar? hammerite?

Hammerite hammered bronze john

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Originally Posted by Gar

Hammerite hammered bronze john

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Eh I still have that here belonging to ye boss [emoji2]

I know and I want it back iv 3 gold calipers and one black unpainted [emoji1]

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Originally Posted by John_D

Yeah they would but then I'd have to buy new calipers too, the 328i 300mm upgrade is way cheaper as it uses the same calipers as the 318i :D

what was the gold paint you used Gar? hammerite?

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Do you just get the 300mm disks and different caliper brackets John?

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Originally Posted by HealyC

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Originally Posted by John_D

Yeah they would but then I'd have to buy new calipers too, the 328i 300mm upgrade is way cheaper as it uses the same calipers as the 318i :D

what was the gold paint you used Gar? hammerite?

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Do you just get the 300mm disks and different caliper brackets John?

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Yeah that should be all that's needed Conor, I checked all the part numbers on realoem and that's the conclusion I came to, also read something similar on another forum. Most people swap the calipers but they have the same part number so why bother.

Wanna be a guinea pig before I try it?

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Originally Posted by John_D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HealyC

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John_D

Yeah they would but then I'd have to buy new calipers too, the 328i 300mm upgrade is way cheaper as it uses the same calipers as the 318i :D

what was the gold paint you used Gar? hammerite?

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Do you just get the 300mm disks and different caliper brackets John?

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Yeah that should be all that's needed Conor, I checked all the part numbers on realoem and that's the conclusion I came to, also read something similar on another forum. Most people swap the calipers but they have the same part number so why bother.

Wanna be a guinea pig before I try it?

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You buy the bits and I'll happily try them out :D

Tbh my front disks and pads are fine but ill need rears I'd say at the next service.

sure thing ...

no point upgrading the rears, the 318i should have 280mm solid discs whereas the upgrade is 276 ventilated.