A8 to B5 brake upgrade... and new rears. How I did it all for less than $400

[Lapkritis]

I wanted to share my recent experience in changing out all 4 brakes on my 98 A4 V6 quattro. I've had previous great experiences with both vendors that I purchased parts from for this project and this round was no exception; both provided shipping updates and the interaction was hassle free.



I purchased this car in 2003 as a daily driver and have performed the maintenance and repairs (excluding dealership recalls) while intentionally avoiding performance mods. While selecting replacement parts for my brake system maintenance I came across the A8 upgrade which consists of Audi TT caliper carriers, an A8 brake rotor sized 312mm (stock B5 lists as 288mm), stock B5 caliper/pads. Basic economics excluded the more expensive brake package options which can usually include a comma in the price. I shopped several vendor sites and believe I found a decent deal on packaging this kit together. Below is my breakdown on what I found to be the best deals to upgrade and as always YMMV:

Front Rotors: My basic requirement on these was anti-corrosion plating. Many of the blank rotors I found did not indicate plating. I wasn't specifically looking for slotted as a blank rotor is sufficient. Regardless, the best deal I found on 312mm rotors with plating were from ECS for $89 shipped. Here: http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/8D06...SLT-SC/ES7976/

Rear Rotors: Here I also shopped for anti-corrosion plating. Matched to the front, $89 shipped here: http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/8D0698601ASLT-SC/

Rotor total: $179.90 from ECS

Carriers: I considered purchasing used carriers as they can often be had if you search enough for someone with a TT that has upgraded and has leftover OEM bits. I preferred to avoid a potential hassle and found a decent price on new carriers; $139 shipped here: http://www.mjmautohaus.com/catalog/p...oducts_id=1890

Front Pads: I wanted a street compound from a brand name. Mintex Redbox for $39.95 shipped here: http://www.mjmautohaus.com/catalog/p...oducts_id=1302

Rear Pads: Matched to the front, Mintex Redbox for $34.95 shipped here: http://www.mjmautohaus.com/catalog/p...roducts_id=542

Pads/Carriers total: $214.85 from MJM

Total out the door with my own free labor brought the total for this job to $394.75. If you're in the market for brakes then don't be afraid to shop around and piece something together as I did here. You could probably break it down and save more if you have the time to shop into the corners of the internet.

Here's a few pics for your clicks:







Before and after:



Hope you enjoyed!

[coolgraymemo]

you are making me want to do this.

very nice breakdown too

[somebody5788]

I spent $453.39 just on my fronts but it was because of my rotors, rebuilding calipers, and installing stainless lines.

$150.60 for ATE OEM carriers
$49.07 for PBR ceramic pads
$19.40 for a ATE caliper rebuild kit
and the expensive one was here
$184.32 for Zimmerman drilled rotors with z-coat


powder coated my calipers for free =D



I strongly recommend this package to anyone. If you have good lines then do it the way he did. Although it's very much worth rebuilding the calipers and replacing at least the front lines with braided stainless.

[Lapkritis]

I strongly recommend this package to anyone.

x2... surprised more people that are coming up on brake system maintenance aren't doing this... search yields very little.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Thanks for the support and orders!!

Pete

[the_pirate]

Nice I need some new rotors and stuff…to bad I have a full face wheel now and you wouldn't be able to see the A8 yumminess.

[Lapkritis]

A lot of views today. Any of you going to man-up and do this?

[Davect06607]

Where did you get the caliper rebuild kits?

[Nebone]

I've done this years ago. I think it breaks faster but I cannot confirm. They have been reliable in all means. I am putting together a 2000 A6 and it has the 312mm rotors and TT carriers stock FYI

[somebody5788]

Where did you get the caliper rebuild kits?

Well I have my own sources as its my job but you should be able to find them online.

[dcampana]

I am piecing together all the pieces for an s4 upgrade. I like the price on this though.. nice write up

[nostradahmus]

How is this system and improvement over stock. Obviously the slotted rotors provide more bite. Do the benefits start and end with 24mm increase in rotor diameter or am I missing something?

[somebody5788]

How is this system and improvement over stock. Obviously the slotted rotors provide more bite. Do the benefits start and end with 24mm increase in rotor diameter or am I missing something?

The increased diameter increases the amount of leverage the caliper has while at the same time increasing the distance between the pad touching the rotor and the rotor turning all the way around till it's touching again therefore giving it more time to cool off and decreasing brake fade.

[Lapkritis]

...and thermal dynamics of increased mass.

[SIMPLXA4]

Great write up makes me really want to so this now

[.Mad Hatter.]

Nice I need some new rotors and stuff…to bad I have a full face wheel now and you wouldn't be able to see the A8 yumminess.

The main reason I don't have Benz mono's for 2011 :)

[somebody5788]

...and thermal dynamics of increased mass.

I just read your sig.... dripping water pump is very very very bad. What happens on these is when the pump starts leaking the bearing fills with coolant and eventually seizes. This means good bye engine.

[Lapkritis]

Yeah... just started last week. Parts for service just arrived yesterday. This weekend or next... if the pump kicks first then I have a freshly forged up 3L vr6 waiting in the garage... ;)

[somebody5788]

Yeah... just started last week. Parts for service just arrived yesterday. This weekend or next... if the pump kicks first then I have a freshly forged up 3L vr6 waiting in the garage... ;)

Just making sure. Should do your cam chain tensioner gaskets too. Not hard to do at this time and you could fix all your oil leaks. I did this and omg there isn't a drip of oil!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lapkritis]

Yep, those and the valve cover gaskets are here too and the special T-tool for the chain tensioner as well... just my luck they started pissing oil 5k miles after my last timing belt change.

[Lapkritis]

I would have used OEM Blanks for both the front and rear, I haven't seen any added advantage of the drilled and/or slotted rotors anywhere.

I would have if I could have found some as reasonably priced with the protective coating.

[somebody5788]

Yep, those and the valve cover gaskets are here too and the special T-tool for the chain tensioner as well... just my luck they started pissing oil 5k miles after my last timing belt change.

I know how it goes... I had to do my timing belt again after 30k miles....

[Lapkritis]

Yeah... I may be moving back to the rust belt in the next couple years and that can accelerate the oxidation. I've hammered too many rotors off hubs and dealt with rust dust wheels enough to know to avoid it by now... especially if the difference in price is so small.

[somebody5788]

Not to mention Audi's like to hold the wheels on with rust too.

[Lapkritis]

My experiences are completely different. I've had 10lbs sledge hammers to get wheels off Vermont cars before. You can probably get away with it for a year up there before you're going to see significant corrosion not where the pad contacts but everywhere else - on the lip of the rotor and down into the vents and where the wheel contacts.

[somebody5788]

My experiences are completely different. I've had 10lbs sledge hammers to get wheels off Vermont cars before. You can probably get away with it for a year up there before you're going to see significant corrosion not where the pad contacts but everywhere else - on the lip of the rotor and down into the vents and where the wheel contacts.

I always clean and coat my hubs in anti sieze at this point. Tired of hammering wheels off.

The coating is not for the breaking surface but rather everywhere else. After 4 years the insides of a normal rotor start to rust up here and then like mentioned the wheels like to stick to them as well. My rotors are going to last me at least 10 years as I can resurface them before the next set of pads.

[Lapkritis]

All bedded in and still recommended. Couldn't be happier with performance; probly never fade on the street.

[somebody5788]

All bedded in and still recommended. Couldn't be happier with performance; probly never fade on the street.

Just wait till you got SS lines hehehe. Better petal response and feedback FTW. I mean it's not like a huge difference but it just feels better anyways.

[vwblackb5]

What's the quality on the MJM Carriers (Eurospec) brand vs OEM, even though they label it w/ the same P/N.

[somebody5788]

What's the quality on the MJM Carriers (Eurospec) brand vs OEM, even though they label it w/ the same P/N.

I seriously doubt theres a difference. But I'd be glad to trade. I want gold! I have grey right now.

[cubanl81]

OP big props for this. I had to replace my front brakes considering they were almost medal to medal lol. Was about to rush and just have my mechanic slap some on for 400 with rotor/pads + labor.

But after seeing this thread I decided might as well do the brakes myself and spend the 400 on the upgrade. Didn't really even know this was such an easy upgrade. Thanks a bunch will post my after pics up in here too.

[Seerlah]

I have a similar setup. But just picked up some SS lines maybe 2 weeksd ago, ready to install with another flush.

I first needed to replace my brakes roughly 2 years ago. Ordered the MJM ATE/Mintex setup for $250 shipped and Motul 5.1 brake fluid for a cost I can't recall (note: don't buy ATE rotors. the hubs rust like sh*t. and that little design they have on them looks like crap). Been riding like that till maybe 3 weeks ago. Guy parting his vehilce like 20 min from my house (he was involved in an accident) was letting this go for $150. But since I helped him take them off (he did not have his tools), he let me have them for $120 picked up. They were the ECS units with Hawk pads and roughly 5k on them.

So, figure roughly $370 for my setup. Then my SS lines were $115 shipped (Stoptech/Goodridge). Still need to order some more fluid to do another flush, when I install my SS lines. This setup should suffice for a couple years, till I can aford an actual BBK (well, justify the $1000+ in cost when my current setup is just fine for a dd street application).

[DRock3d]

Bookmarked for summer

[supermario]

I have a8 upgrade up front.

[denis90]

I have myself ordered one a8 upgrade kit from ecstunning with the s4 rear kit, but im undering for witch car i order the pads. i'm thinking about going with hawk hps plus. For the a4 quattro, the audi tt (the carrier bracket), or the a8 to match the disk?
I seen the brake line should be change to prevent expansion? Witch kit is better the Exact-Fit Stainless Steel Brake Lines from ECStunning, or the Neuspeed brake kit from MJM ? Anyone have try one of these, is only 10$ different one from other one.

[Seerlah]

Stoptech or Goodridge lines

[somebody5788]

I have myself ordered one a8 upgrade kit from ecstunning with the s4 rear kit, but im undering for witch car i order the pads. i'm thinking about going with hawk hps plus. For the a4 quattro, the audi tt (the carrier bracket), or the a8 to match the disk?
I seen the brake line should be change to prevent expansion? Witch kit is better the Exact-Fit Stainless Steel Brake Lines from ECStunning, or the Neuspeed brake kit from MJM ? Anyone have try one of these, is only 10$ different one from other one.

Always match the pads to the calipers. So in this case A4 front pads and S4 rears

[V3RB4L_A4]

Nice to see someone with my color Audi!

Im on the path to get these done... if i ever finish my coil-overs.

[denis90]

thanks i ordered the front and the rear stoptech brakes lines from achtuning. Have you tested the stoptech pads and it's good compared to hawp HPS? I still want good pads without noise.

[Lapkritis]

The caliper piston retracting tool is almost a requirement for the rears. Ecs sells it a bit cheaper than Harbor freight.