How to work out which is the correct brake disc to buy?

hjcartere19

Hello peeps, I'm looking to buy new brake disc for my front wheels, possibly rear too. Any information or tips are welcome for the future knowledge for me, I will be thanking you anyway!
So I've been looking online to purchase one but there's a problem. I know what details I need to look for but what confuse me is - Minimum Thickness mm <<

I own a Peugeot 206 Look 1.4 Petrol Manual 2007. 

On the site it says Minimum Thickness 19mm or Minimum Thickness 11mm, how do I work it out or will either one do?

Plus brake disc type Solid or vented - Which one would you prefer to buy? Or is it a must to follow the same type that the car uses? 

Thanks everybody!

chrisw

Put the registration number into a site like Euro car parts or carparts4less which will give you the possible options.

The vented discs are thicker than the solid discs which is why the minimum thickness is greater. You need to replace with the type already fitted. It's easy to tell the difference if you can see through the wheels, the vented ones are like two discs with vanes in the middle. Otherwise you'll need to remove a wheel to have a look. Most modern cars have vented at the front and solid at the rear, but you need to check.

AdrianC

Look at the existing discs. Are the solid all the way across their width, or are they solid - then gaps - then solid?

This is a vented disc. They're thicker than solid ones, and are fitted with wider calipers to suit that extra width. Replace like with like.

tacpot12

Normally when a Minimum Thickness is quoted this is a figure for how slim the disk can be when it is worn. The disk will start out thicker than the minimum thickness, and wear down to the  minimum thickness level at which point it should be replaced.

You cannot select a replacement disc using the "minimum thickness". 

What you need to do is, as has been suggested, put the registration number into Eurocar parts or a similar website and it will list the options. Hopefully there will only be two options, and the only different may be diameter not thickness. If there are different options for diameter, you will need to measure the existing disks. If there are options for thickness, you might need to do more research to find out which thickness (which will be given on the website) is correct for your make of calliper. There is usually information available online on owners forums about how to determine which make of calliper you have, if this is important - you are not the first person to want to do this, so search for details online. 

Alternatively you could pay a local mechanic to change the disks for you. They will be experienced in identifying the correct disks for your car. 

dannyrst

I've bought some pads for my Audi and there were numerous options to choose from on EuroCarParts for my number plate. I had to look at the service book to get a code for which part was correct. Not sure if yours would be similar but just a heads up.

molerat

A big problem, especially with French cars and to some extent VW, is there can be several different part numbers used at the same time for the same model spec and there is no way of knowing without physically comparing or measuring the item.

AdrianC

molerat said:

A big problem, especially with French cars and to some extent VW, is there can be several different part numbers used at the same time for the same model spec and there is no way of knowing without physically comparing or measuring the item.

This is very true, and Peugeot-Citroen have been little tinkers for it over the years. There's often two different manufacturers who've supplied brakes - and you need to identify which to get the correct parts.

Mutton_Geoff

I looked at CP4L and saw only two types of front disc for your car. Vented or plain. You need to replace like with like. The min thickness is not a worn limit but the generic min thickness of a new part as sold by them.

If you have alloy wheels you can see the disc easily to see if it’s a ventilated disc or not. Otherwise take the front wheel off for a look.

When ordering, do everything in pairs (ie both front wheels) when changing brakes. And personally I’d avoid the cheapest Chinese option and go for a branded make like Brembo or Pagid.