The brakes on my SD4 are OK but you do need to press hard.
I was wondering whether to upgrade the brake disks on the SD4 to the larger 316mm as used on the petrol version as its an easy job.
Is there much noticeable improvement to be had with these bigger brakes ? Jules

No issues with standard brakes.

You must have a fault or need a personal trainer.  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Yorky Bob Im glad you are happy with your brakes . My are fine too, as I said - but I've had vehicles with better braking (But its not all about the brakes; tyres and suspension play a huge part too).
Anyway I digress - when I read that you could get larger diam disks for the diesels it occurred to me that they must be better or why else put them on.

Have you tried the larger diam brakes?

And if so, do the larger brakes noticeably perform better ? Jules

I suppose they must perform better otherwise they wouldn't fit them on the petrol models. If you've got to change them anyway it may be worth doing but I wouldn't bother doing it just for the sake of it. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

might need abs retuning, front/rear brake balance? worth checking At work
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I have 316mm discs on the front. 99% of the time I drive lightly. Same with previous cars. Don't see the point wearing out parts pointlessly. I also put the auto into manual for long steep declines, but don't bother with normal typical hills around the suburbs, & Sydney has a lot of hills, & starting & stopping around my area. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

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I think you have to change the calipers as well to fit the larger discs.

jules wrote:

Yorky Bob Im glad you are happy with your brakes . My are fine too, as I said - but I've had vehicles with better braking (But its not all about the brakes; tyres and suspension play a huge part too).
Anyway I digress - when I read that you could get larger diam disks for the diesels it occurred to me that they must be better or why else put them on.

Have you tried the larger diam brakes?

And if so, do the larger brakes noticeably perform better ?

There is a thread on here all about changing/upgrading (with pictures I seem to remember) and you need to replace part of the caliper MOUNT as well. If I had a van behind I might think it was worth it but compared to some cars I have had they are fine and yes tyres etc make a big difference. Would also only do it at the end of the current life of what you have as it not a necessity.

A bit like fitting side steps possibly on a 4WD  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

I thought about doing this the last time my disks needed changed, but in the end didn't bother.

The caliper is unchanged, but the carrier (the bit that attaches the caliper to the car) needs to be replaced to suit the larger disk.

As a result the pad/disk contact area remains unchanged, as does the piston force, but by moving the caliper a little further out on a larger disk the bit of disk under the pad is 'moving faster' (technical description ) thus giving a greater braking effect. Don't expect the kind of difference you might get with upgraded calipers, etc - I'd expect the difference to be fairly modest.

RogB wrote:

I think you have to change the calipers as well to fit the larger discs.

Lightwater wrote:

Don't see the point wearing out parts pointlessly. I also put the auto into manual for long steep declines,

Hallelujah, I can show this to my Mrs, and say it's not just me. everywhere around here is hills, and she says " an auto is an auto " probably why she kills the pads ! I agree with you , select manual

it's a doddle in the Freelander, even easier in the Subie, with it's flappy paddle

With reference to the bigger brakes, if the OP were changing the discs any way a few bob more for the larger discs and new calliper carriers will not break the bank.

However I'm firmly in the why bother camp, for a big lardy tub on long travel suspension the Freelander 2 stops pretty well, on this type of car I'm sure the tyres are a bigger factor in stopping distance 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

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2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Selecting manual is a piece of cake, & moving up or down a gear is even easier. Maybe she might change driving habits if she pays for the next set of brake pads.

My previous car was a manual, only 44kW, the air conditioning was the perfect downhill anchor to knock a bit of speed off! Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

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RogB wrote:

I think you have to change the calipers as well to fit the larger discs.

in my defence I did say ''I think''

I changed the discs and upgraded to the 316mm disks - others have done it as well - see the thread at http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic25773.html

I used OEM discs which I sourced online from a LR dealer plus OEM pads.

The greater moment or leverage of having the calliper further out provides more braking for the same input effort, but I also found that changing the brake fluid helped, I did this later and found the fluid very yellow and dark rather than virtually colourless. As your car is a 2015, it shouldn't need doing yet. 2016 BMW X3 30d SE in red
MY2013 SD4 XS Firenze Red, 19" 10 spoke contrast paint wheels, Signature Strips, Grand Black Lacquer trim, Cold Climate Pack - gone!
2007 TD4 S Stornoway Grey - gone!