APOLOGIES - THIS WAS WHERE I SHOULD HAVE POSTED MY UPDATE... ON BOTH THREADS NOW (sorry):
Evening all - I don’t think I posted my original comments re the brakes on this exact thread - but seeing as it’s the most recent I thought it best!
So - following all the superb advice from all of you gents, when my 4200 GT failed its MOT due to brake discs and pads - I took the plunge and purchased the 550 discs and some pads off Matt (thanks again!).
I asked my Indie to fit and he obliged - although I have to say that when I told him the cost saving he was dubious it would work - but it did!
Apparently everything fitted great although the pads needed a bit of grinding down (which is apparently very normal).
I thought a quick update to help fellow 4200 owners may help:
Upon braking the car feels very sure footed, very stable and very importantly - it stops! I would say it took a few hundred miles to bed in but after that it’s been great.
To be honest there are no real downsides, but if I have to be picky they are as follows;
The pads appear to give off a little more brake dust than before but nothing major.
The hubs of the discs are corroding - this will be easily rectified with hammerite I suppose. When they are all sparkling they look ace - but with some water and general road muck they are starting to look untidy and need sorting out.
I don’t think they have ground the pads enough. When I start the car after its been sitting over night and raining, there is a noticeable squeal. This goes once the discs are cleaned by braking.
The upsides:
This is simple, very simple - the cost! I simply cannot believe how much I've saved. My wife was going to kill me when I told her the original quote for original Maserati - I'm happy to say that with the savings I'm still married!!!
All joking aside the discs are great. I had bad corrosion before and so when I braked it sounds like a fighter plane coming in to land - now it’s silent. They look good (or they will do with the painted hubs) and they really do feel sure footed.
All in all I cannot thank the forum enough. Not only have you saved me serious money but I also have a happier wife and my pride and joy stops as the Maserati factory intended!!
Thanks again to all that helped me. If I in turn can be of any assistance to anyone else, please feel free to ask away.