Golf 1 front brakes: what sets them apart

The Golf 1 went on sale in spring 1974, with 2 engines: the 1100 (50 hp) and the 1500 (75 hp). The first was fitted with 4 drum brakes until 1975, the second with discs...

27/01/2026

Harald

4 minutes read

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf 1

The Golf 1 went on sale in spring 1974, with 2 engines: the 1100 (50 hp) and the 1500 (70 hp).

The first was fitted with 4 drum brakes until 1975, the second with discs at the front and drums at the rear. To ensure safety, VW quickly adopted front discs on all its Golfs.

Under hard braking, the weight transfer towards the front is significant; a GTI that lifts its rear leg when turning in on a downhill bend … does that ring a bell?

The front brake discs of the Volkswagen Golf 1

The original-type brake discs are the same left and right and are generally sold individually; pay attention to this when ordering. They have a diameter of 239 mm and come in 3 thicknesses depending on the year and version.

There are solid discs in 10 and 12 mm; they are fitted to standard Golf 1s, carburettor or Diesel.
The thicker ventilated discs, in 20 mm, equip the sporty versions of the Golf 1: the injected GTI and GLI.
To improve braking and/or the look behind your wheels, you will find sport brake discs that are, for the most part, sold in pairs. The performance discs for Golf 1 are generally drilled and/or grooved. This feature allows better dissipation of the heat and gases generated under braking and stops the pads from clogging or glazing.

The front brake pads of the Volkswagen Golf 1

Front brake pads are always sold in sets of 4, to equip the 2 calipers of the same axle.

First identify the type (shape) of pads and discs (thickness) on your Golf 1. Not all pads are equal, in original spec as in performance, you will have a choice.

Be aware that since 2001 there has been an ECE R90 regulation on braking. This law ensures that the braking parts you buy in Europe are at least of equivalent quality to the original ones. Linked to the models of calipers and discs existing on the different Golf 1s, there are 3 types of pads.

The small square pads with "2 ears" come from the Golf's grandmother, the Beetle. Their small contact area with the disc does not make them the most efficient or the most durable, yet VW fitted them to the Golf 1 until 1983 and to the GTI until 1981.
The large brake pads that exist for the Golf 1 fit on the floating half-calipers. They allowed the Golf to double the surface in contact with the discs and to silence the critics of GTI braking. Easy to recognise, they have two different shapes on the same caliper.

The disc brake calipers for the Golf 1

There are two types of calipers on the Golf 1 :

A big complete caliper for small square pads, found depending on the model up to 1983
A more modern version, in 2 parts, fitted to Golfs from 1982 (depending on the model). The first is no longer available new, an exchange-and-rebuild solution (from your own) is sometimes available on the market; the second is available new (with no exchange or core charge) in the form of a floating half-caliper (link to the category).
The left and right calipers are different; it is recommended to change calipers in pairs for greater safety. Fitting and removing them requires bleeding your brake fluid.
If you need to replace your calipers, check the wear of the pads as well as the condition of your brake hoses.

Brakes are the subject of many checkpoints at the C.T, and not for nothing. To maintain them, drive your Golf 1 regularly. Operating the brakes, and therefore the hydraulic system as a whole, keeps them in good condition. Brakes are like the battery, they need to be used to stay in shape. Safe travels, and remember to brake to stop at least every 2 hours

Frequently asked questions about Golf 1 braking

Is it possible to fit GTI 20 mm ventilated discs on Golf 1s equipped with solid discs?

Yes, it is possible on Golf 1s that are fitted with 239x12.

This braking improvement on "base" Golf 1s can be made provided the car was fitted from the factory with floating brake calipers. These calipers are recognisable by their large pads of different shapes on the same caliper. GTI pads are thinner and compensate for the greater thickness of the ventilated brake disc; they fit in place of the thick versions for 12 mm solid discs.

This upgrade is not possible on Golf 1s fitted with pads of identical shapes or with small, square pads.

Can the braking be improved on a pre-1982 Golf 1 GTI?

Absolutely. The most effective way is to use a complete (second-hand) set from a Golf 1 GTI 1800 or, easier to find, taken from a Golf 1 cabriolet between 1982 and 1993. In that case you need to replace the big calipers with small square pads with the next version, which is in 2 pieces: floating calipers and caliper brackets (to be bolted onto the stub axles).

You can keep the ventilated discs as long as you use the thinner large pads of the post-1981 GTI.

Do you need to bleed your brakes when changing the discs and pads on a Golf 1?

No, it is not necessary. As long as you do not open the hydraulic circuit, you do not need to bleed the brakes. It becomes essential, for example, when changing a caliper or a slave cylinder, because brake fluid will run out and air will enter the circuit via the connecting pipes.