After developing a steering shimmy on braking with the van, after 100,000 klm, I upgraded to T2 front discs. This stopped the shimmy of course but I did not feel that the brakes were any better otherwise. I did not change the pads at this time. I was actually reasonably happy with the brakes until they warped anyway.
Then a week later I had fitted a second hand duel diaphram booster. I did not know if that should feel different somehow, but it did, I was disappointed it had longer pedal travel and felt softer.
Then a few days later again (today) I had second hand braided lines and ultimate pads fitted, somewhere else, for the final piece to the badly organized upgrade. The final result is very good, I'm very happy now. I think that the bloke who fitted the booster initially left a bubble in the lines, because the pedal is now high and hard as I expected that it should be, and requires less pressure to slow down, as would be expected.
Also I was very surprised that the Ultimates make such a positive difference even before being bedded in and at low speeds when cold, I only expected to feel a difference in performance after braking downhill with the van.
Although I was happy with the brakes before, they did fade a bit after long downhill braking with the van, I just drove accordingly and thought that it was normal. I haven't had the van on yet to see the difference there.
It is hard to tell how much of a difference the braided lines make in the mix.
Anyway with better discs, pads, booster and lines, not doing the work myself, it cost about a grand and is probably worth it, I will know the next time I go down Bulli pass or Mt.Ousley.