Converting to a vented disk on a D1. Found something!

FatMcNasty

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2006
217
66
Southern Oregon
The current way to go is grab the D90/D110 front brakes and put on a vented front disk. But the down side I see is the peddle is mushy due to the slightly larger pistons. And the mod can be done to the stock calipers to get them to work with the disk. Been looking for some place that makes the spacers, and found it. https://performancelandies.com/landrover-parts-accessories/brakes/front-brake-vented-spacer-kit/
Price is in Aus $ so it like $165 US shipped. I have one coming since I need to do a reseal on mine anyway.
Just passing on the info.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,867
669
Seattle
Pairing a vented D90 rotor with a stock D1 caliper gives you most of the drawbacks while forgoing the main advantages of a Defender brake upgrade. You have spent $165 for a more effective mud collector without improving stopping power. I'm okay with a softer pedal feel to gain the increased braking performance of D110 calipers paired with D1 rotors. Every modification has tradeoffs, some more than others.
 

ankeneering

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2017
45
4
wyoming
I’m pretty happy with stock disco 1 brakes and have been since it was new. When you start mixing and matching documents it well for the next owner so people down the line don’t just get confused and come on here and bitch about PO syndrome.
 

terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,670
451
I don’t notice any significant difference in the pedal with my D90 front and 110 rear upgrades. I have on both original and upgraded brake systems that I had slightly longer pedal travel due to incomplete bleeding. When you start with an empty system it (for me) has proven very difficult to get a complete bleed. However, the pedal firmed up after a couple months of driving. I guess air gets trapped that slowly works up through the master cylinder.

I also have decided that while the vented discs definitely cool better I’m not unhappy with the braking performance of the standard D1 brakes. I travel over a mountain pass almost every day and downshifting is the right way to brake. If I was riding the brakes down I’d bet the original brakes would overheat faster than the vented but I don’t do that.
 
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Before blaming the upgraded calipers for a mushy pedal, do a thorough bleeding of the system. I made an ABS modulator so that I could bleed out all the air, and the pedal is amazing. I have Defender front brakes on my '96 D1, a kit that I installed courtesy of P.T. Schram in Indiana. I have a youtube channel that is not monetized, and I made it so that people can see the real way to fix cars, not the rehearsed internet way. Here are the links for building and then for using the modulator. Total cost is less than $100. Make sure to watch both videos all the way through so that you can see the errors that I made, and that way you won't make them also.
and
 

Knightspirit

Well-known member
Sep 22, 2019
288
96
Mount Shasta, CA
I don’t notice any significant difference in the pedal with my D90 front and 110 rear upgrades. I have on both original and upgraded brake systems that I had slightly longer pedal travel due to incomplete bleeding. When you start with an empty system it (for me) has proven very difficult to get a complete bleed. However, the pedal firmed up after a couple months of driving. I guess air gets trapped that slowly works up through the master cylinder.

I also have decided that while the vented discs definitely cool better I’m not unhappy with the braking performance of the standard D1 brakes. I travel over a mountain pass almost every day and downshifting is the right way to brake. If I was riding the brakes down I’d bet the original brakes would overheat faster than the vented but I don’t do that.
I concur - pedal is great with the D90 calipers. The trick is to get the air out of the baffles of the ABS Modulator. You can have someone do it via Testbook - but I just started the car and had my wife turn the wheel back and forth as I bled the brakes. That seemed to work. I used EBC vented rotors and pads and the difference in braking power is unbelievable. Highly recommended!
 

terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,670
451
I concur - pedal is great with the D90 calipers. The trick is to get the air out of the baffles of the ABS Modulator. You can have someone do it via Testbook - but I just started the car and had my wife turn the wheel back and forth as I bled the brakes. That seemed to work. I used EBC vented rotors and pads and the difference in braking power is unbelievable. Highly recommended!
I just remembered something I did that I think helped. I put the D1 on the lift with all 4 wheel off the ground. Then I put it in gear so the wheels were turning. When I applied the brakes it caused the ABS to activate and that seems to help a lot.
 
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pinkytoe69

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2012
1,736
197
minnesota
I just remembered something I did that I think helped. I put the D1 on the lift with all 4 wheel off the ground. Then I put it in gear so the wheels were turning. When I applied the brakes it caused the ABS to activate and that seems to help a lot.

Yes, this absolutely works.

With the wheels up in the air, it doesn't take much pressure on the pedal to lock the wheels, and then the anti-lock kicks in like a mofo.