I don't like my brake feel. Help?

[Alky]

As far as I'm concerned, the brake pedal on our cars is too soft and the pedal throw too long. Would a larger bore brake master cylinder give me a better brake feel? I know I've heard about people doing similar things on other car forums.

And, no, I don't have SS brake lines but do they even do that much?

[Sharkfin]

I got SS lines from ECS and they didn't do much, I agree that they our cars have a soft pedal feel.

[Siena]

Yes, larger brake master cylinder will reduce pedal travel.

The stock master cylinder bore is on the small side, given the size of all calipers combined, and the volume of fluid it has to displace.

[Alky]

Right, so is there a viable replacement MC with a larger bore?

[autoverruckt]

May just want to bleed them first to see if that improves the feel before doing anything major.

[Koby]

Totally agree, the pedal is soft and the travel is way too long till they bite. Do S4/RS4 have the same (lack of) feel? What about better fluid? I'm disappointed to hear SS brake lines didn't help, I was considering that....

[Sharkfin]

I'd love to hear a solution that isn't major or at least something to improve it, anyone?

[Charlescrs6]

I'd love to hear a solution that isn't major or at least something to improve it, anyone?

Motul 5.1 fluid

[Auditude2.0T]

Totally agree, the pedal is soft and the travel is way too long till they bite. Do S4/RS4 have the same (lack of) feel? What about better fluid? I'm disappointed to hear SS brake lines didn't help, I was considering that....

RS4 brake feel is 100X times better. The A4 is soft, mushy and too much travel. The RS4 is hard, firm and has the perfect amount of travel. Could have to do with the monster calipers.

[Sharkfin]

Motul 5.1 fluid

The fluid will make that much of a difference? Are you saying to flush my system and replace all fluid with motul?

[Quattro]

brake fluid, might help a tad...but not sure how much it will. SS lines are supposed to help, strange why you didnt feel anything different nate.

s4 and a4 share the same caliper, just the s4 has larger routers and different carries. If you want better feel, you could try some different pads to have a much more firmer feel.

It never bothered me about the pedal feeling soft!

[CX-7&A4]

I get the feeling that they're too grabby, before they start fading. Change the fluid, and the pads(EBC RedStuff). Most of the time when you put in SS brake lines you're really feeling the fact that you've just changed the fluid out.

[p1nk50ck]

i've changed to stainless lines in other cars and have felt a huge improvement. and it wasn't just because i changed fluid. Rubber lines have the tendency to flex when there is pressurized fluid in them, whereas stainless lines won't.

my brake pedal is actually pretty stiff right now, and i don't think i'll need to change it for a while.

[CX-7&A4]

How do you know that? You did them both at the same time.

[Sharkfin]

My Supreme Power Parts brakes are much better than the OEM ones but my ECS SS lines might not really improved anything, maybe I need news ones down the road.

[barkerd427]

Changing the fluid won't do much at all. Most brake fluids will be about the same, but some are rated for higher temps. SS lines might help a little also. I just put new lines and pads on mine and they feel better than before, but I never had a problem with the pedal feel to begin with. I race the car and never had a problem with the stock feel. Maybe you just need to bleed them. There could be some air in them. When I got done changing my lines I bled them and took it out and the pedal felt horrible. I drove it around a bit to get all the air to the top and then bled them again. They are perfect now.

[CX-7&A4]

All fluids have different dry (new) & wet (when it absorbs 3% moisture), but DOT3 & 4 etc. have minimum requirements as far as dry and wet boiling points go. The point is you're getting out any air that could be in the braking system, and water that changes brake feel over time because it changes the compressibility of the brake fluid as more gets in, making the brakes feel spongy and soft.

[barkerd427]

I see what you were saying now. I thought you wanted him to put all new fluid in because some other brand would make a huge difference. I didn't realize you were just talking regular maintenance. Just so people know, our fluid is supposed to be changed out every two years. That isn't really necessary, but if your pedal doesn't feel very good then it may be a good idea and cheap too. Also, you could just start by bleeding your brakes and see what that does rather than spend a lot of extra time draining the whole system. But if you aren't gonna do it yourself then you might as well have them change it all out.

To OP: Has your pedal always felt this way and did you get the car new or used?

[Alky]

To OP: Has your pedal always felt this way and did you get the car new or used?

It's always felt this way. I bought it used about a month ago, lol.

I don't think there's anything wrong maintenance wise, I just think it's that the A4 has a crappy brake feel.

May just want to bleed them first to see if that improves the feel before doing anything major.

Is a new MC really major work? Shouldn't be that hard to put in a new one, is it? Is there not a larger bore one from another Audi that would work in an A4?

[barkerd427]

You will have to bleed them either way so it would be better to just bleed them first and then maybe you won't need a new MC. Also, because it was used the previous owner may have never changed the fluid before or maybe there is air in the system from something the previous owner did. It will take you about 30min with a partner to bleed the brakes. You don't even need to take off the wheels. When you open the bleeder valves you will know if there was air in the system. If you need to know how to bleed the system just pm me. If you know how then I will say that the suggested order from Audi is front left, front right, rear left, rear right.

[Charlescrs6]

You will have to bleed them either way so it would be better to just bleed them first and then maybe you won't need a new MC. Also, because it was used the previous owner may have never changed the fluid before or maybe there is air in the system from something the previous owner did. It will take you about 30min with a partner to bleed the brakes. You don't even need to take off the wheels. When you open the bleeder valves you will know if there was air in the system. If you need to know how to bleed the system just pm me. If you know how then I will say that the suggested order from Audi is front left, front right, rear left, rear right.

Aren't you supposed to start furthest from the master cylinder...? aka rear passenger, rear driver, front passenger, front driver.

[Bmeister]

As far as I'm concerned, the brake pedal on our cars is too soft and the pedal throw too long.

Maybe on YOUR car, but that's not typical of any A4s I've driven including the one I own. It has brakes every bit as good as those on Mercedes and Porsche; my A4 brake pedal is firm with very little travel and outstanding modulation.

May I suggest repeating what has already been recommended: completely replace your brake fluid as it is either compromised in some way or you have air in your system. Whatever you do, get on with it ASAP for your own safety.

[barkerd427]

I am just saying what Audi recommends.

[Alky]

Maybe on YOUR car, but that's not typical of any A4s I've driven including the one I own. It has brakes every bit as good as those on Mercedes and Porsche; my A4 brake pedal is firm with very little travel and outstanding modulation.

May I suggest repeating what has already been recommended: completely replace your brake fluid as it is either compromised in some way or you have air in your system. Whatever you do, get on with it ASAP for your own safety.

Frankly, maybe YOU just don't know what "good" brake feel is like. I guess I shouldn't even begin to compare the A4 in any way, shape, or form to the '95 rx7 I used to own. I miss that car.

[swoardrider]

I think the "bad" brake feel on our cars has something to do with the brake booster. I've got the Stasis/Alcon set up with braided lines on all 4 corners and Motul 5.1 and its bled correctly. It still doesn't have that true race car feel of a race quality manual braking system.

In my car if the engine is not running, you can literally stand on the brake pedal and it has almost no give. Just like a race car. When the engine is running and the car is parked, I can stab the brake pedal and it is firm, but if I keep my foot in it, the pedal slowly starts sinking to the floor. Its as if the booster has a valve that is slowly bleeding off to prevent some sort of damage to the system or something like that. It almost feels like fluid is slowly leaking out of the system, but obviously its not.

But of course the car stops insane and shows no sign of a problem under race conditions on the track.

[CX-7&A4]

That sinking to the floor is definitely brake assist.

[p1nk50ck]

How do you know that? You did them both at the same time.

yes, with my mr2, civic si, and my friend's s-13 everything was installed at the same time.

With my is300, i ordered them all at the same time, but they sent the wrong stainless lines, so i had to return them. the right ones were no longer in stock. I had a show to go to, so i installed the pads, rotors and motul rbf600 fluid first. The increase in stopping power was amazing. a couple months later i ordered the goodridge stainless steel lines, which changed the pedal feel. the pedal was much more responsive (sensitive).

May I suggest repeating what has already been recommended: completely replace your brake fluid as it is either compromised in some way or you have air in your system. Whatever you do, get on with it ASAP for your own safety.

agreed. The brakes on my car work great. is there a difference between the s-line and non-sline brake system?

[Bmeister]

Frankly, maybe YOU just don't know what "good" brake feel is like. I guess I shouldn't even begin to compare the A4 in any way, shape, or form to the '95 rx7 I used to own. I miss that car.

That may be true; perhaps the AMG S55 and Porsche 930 brakes "suck" too. Maybe AMG and Ruf also have poor brake feel. Yes, you are probably correct that I do not know what good brakes feel like as I have no true track racing car at the present time in which to compare. Whatever the case, the A4, S55 and 930 stop almost immediately when hitting the brakes hard, and with no drama. What more could anyone expect from a street driven car? Nevermind me; I'm an old fart that knows nothing.

[barkerd427]

So when you guys bought the A4 did you think you were gonna have a race car? You realize that this is not the right car for a race car unless you totally change it like that one guy is doing. We have the entry level sedan/wagon from Audi not a race car. The brakes are made to stop the car not feel like a race car.