Stock brakes vs Brembo UPGRADE brakes. What’s the real difference? A test drive with the Golf VII R

3/18/2022

The Brembo UPGRADE brake systems offer innovative technology and unique design for whoever wants to get the maximum out of their car. But what is the real difference between a stock brake system and a Brembo one? A comparative test drive by the website Automoto.it clearly shows this difference.

Designed and tested for high performance vehicle enthusiasts, Brembo UPGRADE braking systems guarantee highly responsive, controllable and safe braking both for normal road use and short sessions on the track.

The Brembo UPGRADE brake systems offer a wide range of solutions, both from a technical/performance and aesthetic point of view, that are able to meet the needs of all those who want to upgrade their own system for a sportier performance, improved safety or simply to give their own vehicle a unique, personal style.

But what is the real difference between a stock brake system and a Brembo one?

The website Automoto.it organized a comparative test drive on the track under the same conditions which compared the stock system on a 7th generation Golf R with a Brembo brake system in the UPGRADE range.

The test

To give accurate results, the two systems were tested under extreme conditions: the Golf braked with a full load, the equivalent of four passengers on board. Seven sandbags were loaded onto each car, each weighing 25 kg, plus the weight of the two engineers on board to give a total weight of over 330 kg. This was done to get maximum performance out of the brake discs, calipers and pads.

The test consisted of two sessions of ten emergency braking episodes each, with ABS, without interruptions. The test then ended with another five rapid braking episodes at a speed of 150 km/h (93 mph).

The first brake system to be tested was the Golf stock system. The test was then repeated, this time with the Brembo UPGRADE range brake system.

The results

The results, after completing the two tests, were clear cut and clearly in favor of the Brembo brakes, perhaps even beyond expectations.

The numbers speak for themselves. The Brembo brake system braked better under all conditions with shorter braking distances than the Golf stock brakes. It was also better at withstanding the extreme stresses of the test and the drop in performance caused by the increase in thermal load was much less than the stock brakes.

Replacing the OE brake system with Brembo UPGRADE products takes you into an exclusive world that is based on unique details, passion, quality and extreme performance.

The numbers

After the first session with 10 braking episodes, starting at a speed of 115 km/h (71 mph), the Golf stock brake system took, on average, 47.65 m (52.1 yards) to stop the car. The Brembo Upgrade range system, on the other hand, needed 46.72 m (51 yards) to stop the car.

In the second session, once again with 10 braking episodes and starting at a speed of 115 km/h (71 mph), there was an even bigger difference between the two brake systems. The stock system needed 48.25 m (52.7 yards) for the car to stop whereas the Brembo brakes stopped the car in 46.96 m (51.3 yards).

It should be stressed that over 1.2 meters less stopping distance for each braking episode is not just a lot for someone on the race track, but is also a very significant safety margin for anyone who has to tackle a mountain descent where a few centimeters less can make all the difference.

However, the session with the biggest difference in results was the last one with 5 braking episodes and a starting speed of 150 km/h (93 mph). When the car was fitted with the stock system, it took 87.77 m (95.9 yards) to stop whereas when fitted with Brembo brakes, it stopped in 81.49 m (89.1 yards).

Here, there was over 6 meters difference between the braking distance required by the Brembo brake system and the stock one. A distance that is the equivalent of the length of two small cars which, as you can imagine, can be decisive for both performance and safety.

As well as the clear benefits in terms of performance and safety demonstrated by the test drive, there are also the stylistic advantages of the exclusive Brembo geometries and design.

With their painted aluminum calipers (available in: Red, Black, White, Yellow and Neon Yellow) with the Brembo logo together with slotted or drilled discs, the Brembo UPGRADE brake systems give an unmistakably sporty and eye-catching look to the car which appeals even more to whoever wants to enhance their vehicle's design and stand out from the crowd.