Firstly hello I'm new here. I have a non cup 2006 225 that I love but wouldn't mid trying my hand at a beginners track day. From what I have been reading about track days it looks like it would be a very good idea to upgrade the brakes. So this is where my question comes. The car has the Brembos on it already. Are the callipers the same as the red painted ones you get on the Cup just without the drilled discs? If this is the case would I be ok to swap to a decent brake fluid and just upgrade to descent pads and discs? If the answer is yes then any recommendations? I assume I can get away with leaving the rears standard. Thanks for any advice.
My recommendations: new brakelines (Goodridge, HEL, etc, what you want) and new brake fluid (DOT 5.1). Drilled or grooved discs and a very good brake pad, like Ferodo DS2500 or EBC red/yellowsuff.
Thanks for the advice. Are the suggested brake pads also going to be ok for everyday use as this car is my daily driver as well?
5s. I'm still a bit confused as to the version of car I actually have haha. I know its not a cup as the TC comes on automatically and its not got the red Brembos. However it does have stickers on it that say black edition which I think just mean black wheels and tinted windows but to me the ride and steering feel very sports like but I have read the non cup is a bit vague.
Sounds like you have the full fat version. They didn't do a black edition as far as i'm aware. Has yours got xenon headlights?
No such thing as black edition! What year is it? I have a spreadsheet with everything on it! Cup/cupped ones only got red callipers in nov 2006, before that they were all grey. For your original question though, it's a very well set up car as standard. If you're a track noob, take it and thrash it. If you cook the brakes, let them cool and it should be fine. If you get addicted, then might be the time to do an upgrade.
similar to my advice, but avoid drilled/grooved like the plague as there's little or no benefit, and a much higher likelyhood or cracking. Avoid EBC like it wants to put a 12 inch dildo in you, Don't worry too much about the DOT rating of the fluid, most high temperature rated stuff is DOT4 (ATE superblue is what I use and stock) and get actual good pads. I use Mintex M1155 pads, they kick ds2500 into a cocked hat
Well, DOT 5.1 dry boiling point is 518F, DOT 4 446F, so it's your decision. EBC redstuff is really good from my point of view especially in dry road - for wet conditions or snow definitely not the best! Grooved and not drilled out discs better for me, I can feel the difference
The ATE super blue Dan recommends is 536F dry boiling point. Look at the datasheets for the actual fluids you choose, not the generic standards - you'll find that the higher quality DOT4 fluids have some very high boiling points. The DOT number represents the chemistry of the fluid, although there are some minimum performance characteristics specified for each type. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the help guys. As for the black edition thing it has a few black edition decals on it plus black Renault wheels. The car is also black along with tinted windows. I realize any of these could have been added after but it appears Renault do make black editions of certain cars. To the other couple of questions: Its a late 2006 and does have the Xenons but definitely not a full cup as the TC come on over a certain speed. There is a picture of the car uploaded on here http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/10533431/ you can see the black edition sticker above the side repeater.
I tell you now, no such thing as a black edition! I bought new in July 2006 and studied all options and recorded them right through to the launch of the mk3! If it is a full cup, it has cloth seats all round with blue in them, or it'll have black/blue recaro's as an £850 option. I had a black 225 Cup. If it is cup packed, it is really hard to tell. From July-Nov 2006 they changed to the phase 2, but all still had standard callipers. In Nov, any cup/cupped car had red callipers. The only other differences on the cupped cars were different discs (drilled) and slightly lower suspension. The traction control you've mentioned is phase 1/2 specific, not cup/cupped. On phase 1, you turn the TC off, but it kicks in again over 30 I think. On phase 2, you can switch it off and it stays off. Doesn't matter which you have.
Well its a 56 plate registered end of 2006 which as far as I can tell make it a phase 2 and the TC definitely still comes back on. The seats are full black full leather Recaro's. Dosen't have drilled discs. Does have black wheels which look to me like they are stock and haven't be repainted but I'm not expert. Are tinted rear and rear side windows standard? Is there anywhere I can contact Renault to find out exactly how the car was sold? If it has been stickered up/wheels painted I would really like to let my insurer know its been modified. Thanks.
The tc should not come back on if you flicked the switch! The light should stay on all the time (I think it might kick in if you really push it, but the light should stay on). Recaro's were an option, if yours is a full fat, I think they're full leather too (should be if the rears are leather). Not having drilled discs, they could have been replaced anyway so no guarantee if it's cup/cupped. There is a very mild tint to all the windows, but the rears should not be obviously darker. There was no factory option to tint either. The wheels are 100% not from the factory. There was an option to have black gloss wheels and mirrors, but this was c.2008 after the R26 sales had slowed a little. They may be original wheels, but it's not how it would have left the factory. Oh, the previous iteration of the F1 had gloss black wheels. As for insurance, if it's not a performance gain, I doubt they'll be that worried. I'm also never sure with second hand cars as it is 'as you bought it' surely there are thousands of cars running round where people have no idea they're modified!
All rear windows are noticeably darker. Wheels look the same as the ones on the F1 225 actually. Filled out a form on Renaults website. Apparently someone will give me a phone. I think its probably a standard 225 with a bundle of extra added onto it.
Lol, not if the extras weren't from the factory! The only way you'd have black wheels from new is if someone bought them from the parts defo and fitted them before picking it up.. It's not a genuine Renault pack, but that shouldn't make any difference if you like it
Love the car and I personally think all the black plus black bit and bobs looks awesome. Never been a fan of bright coloured big spoiler quick cars. I like something that's a little bit undercover. The twin exhausts don't help though haha. Will let you know what Renault say if anything. Think I might remove the black edition stickers though if they aren't genuine.
I bet I can tell you more than they can lol. Pm me your email and I'll send you the specs spreadsheet stickers are defo not factory, black gloss wheels on deep black paint will be sweet! Although you might have one if the very rare phase 2's with black gold paint..
Pm sent. Just of the phone to Renault. They said it was sold with the tinted windows and black wheels as optional extras. He can't recall there being a black edition either but is going to speak to the Renault Sport specialist team and see if they know any more. Seems I have completely derailed my own thread... oops.
I thought that, but I'm going with it as it's your thread See, the guy doesn't know what he's talking about, both those weren't factory options!
According to the cars records they where on it when it was sold. Maybe they are after market options that where fitted to the car from new? Might make sense as the reg number confused compare the meerkat.
I need some new rear discs for my R26 do the 5 stud 225 ones fit? They look the same? What about the fronts too? Seen some high carbon brembo drilled and grooved rear discs and pads with bearings for about £240 I can get the same Brembo drilled and grooved front discs and pads for £150 again advertised for the 225 mintex do a front disc and grooved with dimples and pads for £100 again advertised for the 225 got some braided hoses to fit already will upgrade the front pads to ds2500 when/if I do a track day. cheers John
As already said, the higher spec DOT4 fluids far excede these standards, as the figures you've given are for minimum requirements rather than the actual boiling point of each fluid type
I have been known to use brakes hard sometimes yes. EBC have failed me where £9 motor factor pads have worked perfectly though (dating back to 205 gti days in that case)
I may reconsider ive got a bit of a brake upgrade shopping list atm some superblue stainless bleed nipples braided lines was gonna use yellowstuffs and maybe the upgraded sliders from mr pink on ms if there still available
I'd heard the same about yellow stuff. A race team had them as sponsor once and they were that shit they had ferodo pads instead and painted the backs yellow!
