The standard MGB front disc brakes use a solid 10.75-inch disc with Lockheed twin-piston calipers, a competent system that was ahead of many contemporary rivals when introduced in 1962. However, under sustained hard use or in spirited driving, the standard smooth disc and original-specification pad compound can reach their limits. Uprated discs and pads offer a meaningful improvement in braking performance, pedal feel, and fade resistance without requiring modification to the calipers or hydraulic system.
Uprated Discs
Under heavy braking, pad materials release a gas film that builds between the pad face and the disc surface, reducing friction and producing the spongy, fading feel that drivers experience during repeated hard stops. Grooved and slotted discs address this by providing channels that continuously evacuate this gas, maintaining pad-to-disc contact and consistent friction throughout the braking event. Six-slot grooved discs feature six machined slots across the braking surface, providing effective gas evacuation while retaining a smooth swept area for everyday use. These are a well-proven upgrade suited to fast road driving and offer a noticeable improvement in pedal feel and consistency over the standard smooth disc.
EBC slotted and dimpled discs combine slots with surface dimples for maximum gas evacuation, the dimples create additional escape points across the full disc face, while the slots carry gas and debris away from the pad contact area. This is the highest-specification disc available for the standard Lockheed caliper and is suited to owners who drive hard on a regular basis or use their car on track days. All uprated discs are direct replacements for the standard items and fit the original caliper and hub assembly without modification.
Uprated Pads
EBC Green Stuff Kevlar pads use a Kevlar-reinforced friction compound that increases stopping power in fast road use while producing minimal brake dust, a practical advantage on cars with alloy or wire wheels where dust staining is visible. They operate effectively from cold and do not require a warm-up period, making them suited to everyday driving as well as more spirited use. Mintex brake pads provide a quality OE-specification compound for reliable everyday use. They are the correct choice for owners who want a dependable, consistent pad without the higher friction characteristics of a performance compound, well suited to cars used primarily for touring and general road driving.
When fitting new discs or pads, the disc surface and caliper housing should be degreased with brake cleaner before assembly. New pads require a bedding-in period of moderate braking to establish full contact with the disc, avoid heavy braking for the first fifty miles to allow the friction material to seat correctly.