Uprated brake discs and pads improve stopping performance on the factory 11-inch Lockheed front disc brakes fitted to the MGA 1600 and 1600 Mk II. The standard factory pad compound and solid disc were specified for the driving conditions and traffic speeds of the late 1950s and early 1960s. For an MGA used on modern roads, heavier traffic, higher cruising speeds, more frequent heavy braking, an uprated pad compound and matched disc can deliver noticeably better brake response, reduced fade under repeated use, and cleaner wheels with less brake dust.
Scope, MGA 1600 and 1600 Mk II only
Both products in this category are stocked for the A1600 fitment, the Lockheed 11-inch front disc brake specification fitted to the MGA 1600 and 1600 Mk II from factory. The MGA 1500 uses Lockheed drum brakes at the front and cannot be fitted with uprated disc pads or discs as supplied here; 1500 owners looking to move to disc brakes at the front should see the Brake Disc Conversion Kits node. The Twin Cam and De Luxe use 11-inch Dunlop disc brakes with their own pad and disc specification, not Lockheed-pattern items, and are not served by the 1600 uprated pad set or disc set stocked on this page.
EBC Greenstuff brake pad set
The brake pad set for the A1600 is the EBC Greenstuff pad, a fast-road pad compound developed for classic and modern cars used in spirited street driving. EBC Greenstuff offers a high initial bite from cold, meaning the pads work effectively from the first brake application without needing a warm-up lap that track-specific pads typically require. The compound delivers noticeably reduced dust compared with the original factory pad, helpful for owners with painted wheels or chrome wire wheels where brake dust accumulation is both visible and harmful to the finish over time. Greenstuff pads are ECE R90 approved for road use across Europe, making them a legal direct replacement for the factory MGA pads rather than a track-only specification.
The red Brake-in coating on the pad face allows safe braking from the moment the pads are fitted, without an extended bed-in period.
EBC uprated front brake discs
The front brake disc set for the A1600 is a pair of uprated EBC discs matched to the Lockheed 11-inch front disc architecture of the 1600 and 1600 Mk II. The uprated discs are manufactured to higher tolerances than the factory-pattern items and typically feature surface treatment, slotting, dimpling or cross-drilling depending on the specific disc variant, that helps the disc shed heat more effectively than a plain solid disc under repeated heavy braking. The discs fit the factory caliper and hub arrangement without modification.
Pads and discs together
For best results, the uprated pads and uprated discs should be fitted together as a matched set. A new pad bedding onto an old, scored disc will not give full performance from the compound and will wear unevenly at the disc face.
Conversely, a new disc bedding onto worn original pads will not benefit from the improved disc surface. When upgrading the front brakes on a 1600 or 1600 Mk II, fitting both items together gives the full benefit of the upgrade and gives a consistent starting point for pad and disc wear from the moment of installation.
Concours considerations
For concours restoration to factory specification, the original Lockheed pad compound and plain disc are the correct items. The EBC Greenstuff pad and uprated disc are visibly different from factory originals (by pad colour and disc surface treatment) and are appropriate for cars used on the road where driving performance takes priority over factory originality.
Ordering considerations
Ordering is straightforward, both the pad set and the disc set are stocked in the single A1600 fitment and suit both the 1600 and 1600 Mk II with their factory Lockheed front disc brakes. The dust cover specification (introduced from car/chassis 102589 on the Mk II) does not affect pad or disc compatibility, the uprated items fit the caliper the same way whether the disc runs with or without dust covers. Installation should be followed by a proper bed-in of the pads according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the discs should be kept free of oil or grease contamination during fitment.