anyone swapped to A8 front brakes?

[4inchMAF]

how hard was it? what all is required from the A8? any special tools needed?

ill be doing some road coarse stuff this spring and, for reason, i dont think the stock A4 brakes are up to the task.....

thanks for any input

[Seerlah]

TT carriers, A8 Rotors, and stock calipers. Many people have done it. Someone should chimme in soon. I know djwimbo did it.

[Poopie]

takes 30 mins with air tools. just swap rotors and carriers

[djwimbo]

Yep, I did it. I'm still very happy with it. My only regret is not doing more research on brake pads before hand.

Another option down the road if you want to upgrade even more is the Porsche Boxster 4 piston calipers. I have a set if you want to skip the middle portion.

Stock Swing wheels

[Poopie]

what pads are you running?

[offroader1006]

took me a while, because i had to wait for the A8 driver to slow down enough for me to get the front wheels off.

[Sigma 3]

[QUOTE=djwimbo;3178634]Yep, I did it. I'm still very happy with it. My only regret is not doing more research on brake pads before hand.

Another option down the road if you want to upgrade even more is the Porsche Boxster 4 piston calipers. I have a set if you want to skip the middle portion.

Stock Swing wheels

[/QUOTE

What does this set up cost? (calipers rotors and tt carriers)
TIA

[geeky]

^^^ from what i have read, you're retaining your stock calipers and just bumping up to a bigger rotor and then you need to look for pads.

Basically the STOCK A4 caliper bolts to the TT Carrier, which gives more clearence for the A8 rotors which are larger than the stock A4 rotors. And then afterwards of course you need some nice brake pads to have the entire shoot-n-match setup

[B5A4Kevin]

any tt caliper carrier or 225s?

[geeky]

no idea, can someone fill us in on that too? my rotors/brake pads are soon to be shot and need replacement and i would LOVE to bump up to something like this. Is there a written DIY for this?

[Poopie]

no DIY needed. Its just like changing the brake pads and rotors except now you remove the carries too. There are 2 17mm bolts holding them in. most online retailers sell a kit. its about $350 plus shipping for the rotors and carriers. you just need pads.

[geeky]

thats great to know. Thanks for the info.

[djwimbo]

what pads are you running?

PBR Metal Master's IIRC. I really want the Carbotech's now.
They were fine for small course AutoX(and DD), but one track day killed them. There's still a lot of pad left, but they have never been the same.

The TT carriers should be the same from the 180 to the 225. Both are 12.3" rotors.

[Sigma 3]

^^^ from what i have read, you're retaining your stock calipers and just bumping up to a bigger rotor and then you need to look for pads.

Basically the STOCK A4 caliper bolts to the TT Carrier, which gives more clearence for the A8 rotors which are larger than the stock A4 rotors. And then afterwards of course you need some nice brake pads to have the entire shoot-n-match setup

Yes but someone posted that the porche caliper was an option in this set up. I was just curious as to how much all the bells and wistles would be

Where are you at in Washington?

[geeky]

I'm over in Seattle/Bellevue but make my way towards spokane/pullman once in a while (my home town)

[djwimbo]

Yes but someone posted that the porche caliper was an option in this set up. I was just curious as to how much all the bells and wistles would be

Depending on what you buy the Porsche Boxster (non-S) calipers for, you can have "Porsche Brakes" for <$400. You can pick up the caliper mounts from PureMS for $175, and whatever you find used calipers for. This is assuming you already have the 12.3" A8 rotors. Otherwise add in the $125-160 for new rotors.

like I said, for the right price I'd be willing to get rid of my Porsche calipers as they are not installed yet. They are painted black, and shipping would not be included.

Added benefit is that not only do you get 4 piston fixed calipers, you decrease the unsprung weight of the car, making it faster around a track.

[Mike@PureMS]

Here's a link to our A8 kit. It's a direct bolt on, and reuses your stock calipers. Install in no more difficult than changing pads and rotors.

A8 Stage 1 Brake Kit

[4inchMAF]

so you cant use the A8 calipers too?

[NK2007]

no, you use the a4 caliper, a8 rotor sometimes refered to as 12.3", and a tt caliper carrier.

The carriers i got from purems, and when i had it all together, there was a grinding noise when i turned. As it turned out, the new carrier was scraping and grinding down my new rotor .

Anyway, I had to take it all appart and grind down the carrier in a couple spots, a coat of paint and bolt it all up.

Note: I am in no way bagging on purems, as they are a great company and i have bought most of my parts through them. It is the fact that the carriers are reproduction ones made by another company. I would assume that unless you buy oem, the carriers are all made by the same company, regardless of who you buy them from.

I know most people don't have this problem, its just a heads up for those lucky people that do.

[DJSticky]

Depending on what you buy the Porsche Boxster (non-S) calipers for, you can have "Porsche Brakes" for <$400.

Such as this?

[djwimbo]

Such as this?

Yes, but mine are stripped down, cleaned and painted.

If you're willing to wait or have a good hookup, you can get them for for less, but it takes time and a desperate seller.

[solowb5]

You can use purems boxster caliper carriers and A8 rotors. Come down to my crib and buy my shiz and I'll install them for you. That is if you'd ever answer your damn phone ;)

[$teady$upreme]

I like my A8 front setup with B5 S4 rear setup. I been to track a few times, and they work great.

Front:
Goodridge stainless lines
TT carriers
Zimmerman plain A8 rotors
PBR ultimate ceramics pads
ATE super blue fluid (going to switch to something else later)

Rear:
Goodridge stainless lines
OEM S4 rotors
OEM S4 calipers
OEM S4 carriers
PBR ultimate ceramics pads

[4inchMAF]

I like my A8 front setup with B5 S4 rear setup. I been to track a few times, and they work great.

Front:
Goodridge stainless lines
TT carriers
Zimmerman plain A8 rotors
PBR ultimate ceramics pads
ATE super blue fluid (going to switch to something else later)

Rear:
Goodridge stainless lines
OEM S4 rotors
OEM S4 calipers
OEM S4 carriers
PBR ultimate ceramics pads

i just so happen to know someone who has a rear brake setup from an S4 that wont be using them.... is there much work in switching the rears to the S4 stuff....


oh, and solowb5. i just got my phone back. call me ill come down there if you have a garage

...for those of you not fortunate enough to live in ohio the last 2 days we've had a wind chill temperature of -23!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[djwimbo]

the rears aren't a big deal. The major benefit from that is the vented rotors instead of the A4's solid rotors.

I don't believe install is any more difficult than swapping calipers, carriers, rotors and pads.

[offroader1006]

check out ecstuning.com for their upgrades, if you want to go above the basic kit.

[lotusgardener]

For the porsche upgrade, what brake lines do you have to get?? Also has anyone done the S4 rear calipers with A8 carrier and rotor? Worth it?

[47Ronin]

so the pure EMS carriers are bad?

[geeky]

They are NOT oem, so once in a while, someone will get a lemon, but since PureMS's CS is they'll probably take care of you.

[NK2007]

so the pure EMS carriers are bad?

No, like the post above me, I probably got stuck with the one bad set (actually only one of the carriers rubbed). Had i not had a million other issues and just wanted my car back together, i would have sent them back, and i'm sure pureMS would have taken car of me. Instead i just had to file about 1/8 of and inch off in 2 spots and they work perfect now.

And in all reality the carriers are all probably made by the same company unless you buy O.E.M. from the dealer or off a TT.

[dualaudi]

I went with purems and the install went okay. LINKY w/ pix

Went with ceramic pads - had to bed them in pretty hard.. But the larger rotors feel a bit better... good luck. Spent about $310 + pads.