Brakes differ by year?

[jcll2002]

I drove my friend's '04 a4 (1.8t, has a lot more options than mine including sports package) and the brakes are A LOT snappier than mine (an '05 ar 1.8t, non sports package). I went to the dealership and some guy told me that they changed the caliper size between 04 and 05 but looking at the cars I couldn't tell a difference between them. My pads are OEM and still have a lot left on them. I don't know a whole lot about brakes, but I do know what calipers are and maybe there is a difference of like 20mms or so that I can't visually distinguish.

What's up?

[diztek]

suspension significantly helps with braking.

[jcll2002]

would just upgrading to the sports suspension really help that much with braking? The difference is night and day with the brakes comparing each car

[diztek]

i assume he has bigger tires as well.

[jcll2002]

nope they're the same. I have the special edition which has the same 17" wheels, just not the suspension.

[diztek]

well that's weird cuz, the brake change I believe was only on the rears. And you would have gotten the bigger ones, since yours is an 05. are the tire tread wear the same? tread depth also makes a huge difference.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

Maybe ur brakes are bad?

[jcll2002]

well that's weird cuz, the brake change I believe was only on the rears. And you would have gotten the bigger ones, since yours is an 05. are the tire tread wear the same? tread depth also makes a huge difference.

they both recently got replaced...both continentals

I'm getting it serviced on thurs. What should I tell them?

[FromS60toB61.8t]

i've been told that the brake size depends on if you have a 1.8t or the 3.0, the 3.0 uses slightly bigger ones... i ran into this issue when i had to replace my brakes

[jcll2002]

yeah I heard the 3.0s are bigger also, but they are both 1.8Ts. I don't know, something just doesn't seem right. It's not that my car doesn't brake, it's just the other one does it so much more responsively and crisply.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^ maybe it's the pads he's using!

[FromS60toB61.8t]

whats the mileage difference on them and have either of them been replaced before?

[jcll2002]

mine has 32k and the other is just under 50k. They're both CPO and have been serviced at the regular intervals so that's all I can say about that. Not exactly sure.

BTW, where in ct are you? Just moved from there.

[FromS60toB61.8t]

Litchfield County area, all i can think of is maybe your low on brake fluids or your calipers are just defective of sort (like some people have factory monsters and such)

[jcll2002]

ok, i guess ill suggest that to the service guys. Hope they find something.

[NiveK1970]

the reality is suspension will indeed make a huge differance in braking in todays car's with all the active ABS technology's

[jcll2002]

well i guess youre right about the suspension because they said the brakes were fine. they even changed the pads and fluid to make sure.

What coilovers should I get? What are the differences between the stasis SS, Konis, H&R, bilstein, and the others?

Also, what brakes should I get if I were to upgrade? Is it worth getting a BBK for like $2k if I don't track at all? I'm completely stock btw. Stopping power is almost more important to me than speed.