What brakes to get?

[jacobsen]

Been using brembo rotors oe size, oe calipers and hawk hps pads. that setup didn't last.

What's the best bolt on caliper/rotor/pad upgrade?

[LINDW4LL]

I vote for 18Z Cayenne setup. It's plenty of brake for the street, looks great, and is relatively cheap.

[BARRY]

its all perspective honestly.

i'm running 17z calipers, racing brake slotted 2 piece rotors, goodridge rs4 brake lines, and ferodo ds2500 pads. rear stasis 312mm 2 piece rotor upgrade and ferodo ds2500 pads...pretty pricy setup, but stops better than any other car i've ever driven. thought my E63 AMG stopped fast until i put this setup together.

any oem upsized caliper setup will work awesome compared to stock...just spend some time looking for the best value.

[DiertyEuroSpec]

B6 S4 kits are plentiful these days. Its what I run and love them, only trade off is increased weight you can feel but for the vastly improved braking its worth it for me.

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[itsmatt33]

my complete b6 s4 kit.


http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...0#post11324270

[drumnjuny]

buy my B7 A4 front brakes. for half of the S4 kit, too.

[jacobsen]

I vote for 18Z Cayenne setup. It's plenty of brake for the street, looks great, and is relatively cheap.

I'm reviewing this thread: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t-BBK%29/page2
the setup needs technical modification. I'd like a better how to or a setup that doesn't need drilling/grinding...

its all perspective honestly.

i'm running 17z calipers, racing brake slotted 2 piece rotors, goodridge rs4 brake lines, and ferodo ds2500 pads. rear stasis 312mm 2 piece rotor upgrade and ferodo ds2500 pads...pretty pricy setup, but stops better than any other car i've ever driven. thought my E63 AMG stopped fast until i put this setup together.

any oem upsized caliper setup will work awesome compared to stock...just spend some time looking for the best value.

Yep I'm looking for best bang for my buck to support a new ko4/f21 setup.

B6 S4 kits are plentiful these days. Its what I run and love them, only trade off is increased weight you can feel but for the vastly improved braking its worth it for me.

How does the B6S4 setup compare to the 17/18z setup? Theres a few options here, B5-B7 A4 and S4, they're all heavier excepting big dollar setups right?

we just need to upgrade the flexible portion of the brake lines right? Not back to the master.
Thanks for the input all.

[Fast4esT]

I plan to switch from b6 s4 brakes to the 2013+ Q5 calipers running the same rotor as the s4 setup

[LINDW4LL]

I'm reviewing this thread: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t-BBK%29/page2
the setup needs technical modification. I'd like a better how to or a setup that doesn't need drilling/grinding...

How does the B6S4 setup compare to the 17/18z setup? Theres a few options here, B5-B7 A4 and S4, they're all heavier excepting big dollar setups right?

we just need to upgrade the flexible portion of the brake lines right? Not back to the master.
Thanks for the input all.

That DIY is for 17Z which doesn't have as good of an off-the-shelf rotor option as the 18Zs do.

For 18Z, no modification is required if you grab the JHM/Girodisc lightweight 2pc rotors, and with the off-the-shelf 345mm ML55 rotors, the only modification necessary is to open the center bore of the rotor by ONE millimeter. Super easy.

Yes- only the flexible portion of the brake lines are replaced.

The S4 setup has about the same fade resistance as the 18Z, but the Cayenne caliper offers some benefits with it's opposed-piston aluminum monoblock design. It's a lighter caliper than stock, has more clamping force, better pedal modulation, and larger pads, too. There's also the big aesthetic advantage. The Cayenne calipers are huge.

[ADCS]

Honestly, if you have GOOD tires and don't track your car you won't notice a significant difference between B7 A4 brakes and 18z brakes. You will get cool points for having 18z though.

Your deciding factor should be what minimum wheel size you can run (assuming you don't track the car).

[Sales@DriveAuto]

HP2's (B5 S4 brakes) are underrated. Cheap, easy bolt on, easy pad changes, great pedal feel.

[Dubbed-Out]

I vote for 18Z Cayenne setup. It's plenty of brake for the street, looks great, and is relatively cheap.

I totally agree, especially when you factor in the (cool l👀ks) of the huge six piston calipers behind the front wheels. Not to mention the performance benefits Vs. weight compared to the stock setup. The 18z by far superior.

The only Con is that it requires you to run 18" or larger wheels

[Gberg888]

No one runs them on the B6 but I will be shortly.

Boxster Front Brakes, B6 S4 Rear Brakes.

Apikol makes the bracket, uses D2 A8 (312mm) Rotors, and its a boxster caliper. All said and done, the front brackets and calipers would cost a total of 800 before pads and rotors, And thats if your spending 600 on the calipers which is high. I just got 996 Turbo calipers for 450. So boxster calipers should be less, maybe 400 or so.

If I was to do any other setup, up front I would go with the q5. its like 1100 all said and done and ECS sells a kit.

[Charles.waite]

18z are relatively cheap and relatively easy, but wheel fitment becomes an issue.

Just find some OEM b6/7S4 fronts and b7 a4 or s4 rears. Call it a day. 100% bolt on with zero modification. The b8 S4 fronts bolt on but you have to swap the brake lines and the b8 lines are longer and fit a bit janky in the wheel well unless you go custom.

Brembos are nice and all, but they often require rotor modification to fit properly.

The other option is Q5 two piston brembos, but those are a bit more expensive new and harder to find used than the other OEM+ options.

[customa4]

18z are relatively cheap and relatively easy, but wheel fitment becomes an issue.

Just find some OEM b6/7S4 fronts and b7 a4 or s4 rears. Call it a day. 100% bolt on with zero modification. The b8 S4 fronts bolt on but you have to swap the brake lines and the b8 lines are longer and fit a bit janky in the wheel well unless you go custom.

Brembos are nice and all, but they often require rotor modification to fit properly.

The other option is Q5 two piston brembos, but those are a bit more expensive new and harder to find used than the other OEM+ options.

This^^

[Charles.waite]

And keep in mind, when people talk about the superiority of a brembo setup vs a more OEM setup they are sort of misleading people.

Bigger, yes. Better? Depends where you do your driving. Nobody in their right mind would dispute a 17 or 18z setup would outperform an OEM setup on the TRACK, but in normal driving, you're never doing to notice the difference aside from pedal feel. Stopping distances will be so close as to make no difference.

I think the reason people always say Brembos are so much better is 1) because they're Brembos and 2) they look really damn cool when they're installed. On the street they're massive overkill.

I'mnot trying to hate on Brembos, but people often have a very unrealistic view of Brembos because they're seen as "racecar brakes" and therefore must be way better than anything else. The stock b6 brakes are complete shit though and DEFINITELY should be replaced.

For my b6 I did B6 S4 fronts, b7 a4 rears, stainless lines, and a caliper stiffening kit from Tyrolsport. Loved the setup. My advice, buy the best pad you can afford that has the characteristics you like. The pads make WAY more difference than the calipers IMO.

[eljay]

Honestly, if you have GOOD tires and don't track your car you won't notice a significant difference between B7 A4 brakes and 18z brakes. You will get cool points for having 18z though.

Your deciding factor should be what minimum wheel size you can run (assuming you don't track the car).

Good advice here and from others above.
Consider other snowballing effects of changing brakes like:
- do you have to buy new wheels for summer due to different offset?
- do you already have a winter set of wheels? Will they fit over your new setup or will you need to buy a new set?
- are rotors/pads readily available for your new setup?

I'm going with stock B7 brakes. I get to keep my summer and winter wheels, get better braking, and have many choices for rotors/pads. That should be adequate braking for a street-only GTRS Avant.

As said above, it depends on your goals. If you are heading for the track, then more research may be needed for your exact goals. Even then, I always recommend to mod the driver before ANY car modification. Then you will know exactly where to spend your money to go faster.

[noldevin]

I did just regular B7 A4 brakes and they were a massive improvement. The car stops twice as good now. I got all 4 calipers in great condition from an 08 for a couple hundred dollars, but opted to get fresh pads and rotors. The fronts went on easy but some stuck bolts made the rears a bear and a half and involved some torch cutting. Also haven't been able to get the stock pedal feel back, its a little mushy at the top (but still stops fantastically).

[BARRY]

B6/B7 S4 brakes will be adequate...17z calipers fit under factory 17 inch wheels if you have sport wheels. if you have factory 18 inch USP or similar you'll need spacers to clear the caliper due to the higher offset.

B6/B7 brakes are 345mm vs 17z's 330/332mm but the 17z has a superior design. you can run 4 piston (1lE) touareg calipers vs the 17z or 18z 6 pistons which would probably be your cheapest upgrade as they mount up exactly like their 17z counterparts. Q5 calipers are a little newer so the price will reflect that.

[Charles.waite]

I did just regular B7 A4 brakes and they were a massive improvement. The car stops twice as good now. I got all 4 calipers in great condition from an 08 for a couple hundred dollars, but opted to get fresh pads and rotors. The fronts went on easy but some stuck bolts made the rears a bear and a half and involved some torch cutting. Also haven't been able to get the stock pedal feel back, its a little mushy at the top (but still stops fantastically).

My upgraded brakes were always a bit mushy. Even after flushing 2L through the system. I just got used to it.

[BARRY]

^ ya...any sliding piston type caliper will be mushy. more movement and flex from a single pivot point. majority of people out there have never felt amazing brakes so they sell you on what they think is best.

these are reasons why racing calipers like wilwoods don't have room for dust boots...less space for flex and movement.

[jayiszraw]

My upgraded brakes were always a bit mushy. Even after flushing 2L through the system. I just got used to it.

I think pads have to do with it as well. I had some ebc red stuff pads and it was a firm peddle, but as soon as i changed to semi metallic pads the feel was more spongy on my hp2s

[jesse500]

Are 04 B6 S4 front & rear calipers/rotors a direct bolt on for a 04 A4? How much larger are the rotors for a B6 S4, versus a B6 A4?

[ZipMeUpJ]

bolt on. bolt off.
s4 = 345mm front
b6 = 288mm front

s4 rear ??mm
a4 rear waytoosmall mm

[jesse500]

bolt on. bolt off.
s4 = 345mm front
b6 = 288mm front

s4 rear ??mm
a4 rear waytoosmall mm

Wow, that really is a big difference in size on the front. 57mm!

[Charles.waite]

A4 rears are 245mm stock and s4 rears are 300mm. B7 a4 rears are 288.

[ImAudiHeree]

A4 rears are 245mm stock and s4 rears are 300mm. B7 a4 rears are 288.

S4 rears are also vented unlike most rear setups.


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[itsmatt33]

like i said someone buy my kit u wont find a better combo unless u piece it together yourself, the ONLY reason im selling is because i upgraded to RS4

[ZipMeUpJ]

A4 rears are 245mm stock and s4 rears are 300mm. B7 a4 rears are 288.

Yes that. It's wild that the B7 rears are the same size as the b6 a4 front discs. When I did my swap to all b7 a4 brakes I was astounded

[ADCS]

Yes that. It's wild that the B7 rears are the same size as the b6 a4 front discs. When I did my swap to all b7 a4 brakes I was astounded

That is quite a bit misleading.
The B7 A4 rears are not even close to the same thermal capacity of the B6 A4 fronts. Diameter is one thing but you need to consider the thickness of the rotors and the venting.

288mm diameter and 12mm thick (solid) vs 288mm diameter and 25mm thick (vented) have an enormous difference in thermal capacity as well as cooling rate.

For the record, I am not saying the B7 A4 rears are not good. I have B7 A4 rears on both my B7 and B6. They are enormous improvement from B6 A4 REARS. Just don't directly compare them to the B6 fronts. A better comparison would be the B6 A4 fronts to the B6/7 S4 REARS (288mmx25mm vented and 300mmx22mm vented)

[ZipMeUpJ]

I was only referring to the diameter

[DownhillA4]

Been using brembo rotors oe size, oe calipers and hawk hps pads. that setup didn't last.

What's the best bolt on caliper/rotor/pad upgrade?

I didn't read replies but B8 S4 caliers/carriers with B7 S4 rotors. End thread. I have a full thread about it bolting up from 2010.

[daught]

Do 16" wheels fit over B7 A4 brakes? No way I am giving up 16s in the winter.

[noldevin]

I can't speak from experience on 16's, but my stock 17's don't leave much room at all up front. I also only have the B7 A4 and not the S4 brakes, so they're a bit smaller.

[GOODBYNAAIR]

HP2's (B5 S4 brakes) are underrated. Cheap, easy bolt on, easy pad changes, great pedal feel.

I have a full set sitting around just want them gone PM me if you want more info.

[jesse500]

So to confirm, B7 A4 front & rear brakes, bolt directly onto a B6 A4? (both Quattro, if it matters). And both the front & rear brakes are larger than stock B6?

B7 A4 rear is 288mm vs 245mm B6 A4. What is the difference in the front rotors?

[SleeperAvant]

So to confirm, B7 A4 front & rear brakes, bolt directly onto a B6 A4? (both Quattro, if it matters). And both the front & rear brakes are larger than stock B6?

B7 A4 rear is 288mm vs 245mm B6 A4. What is the difference in the front rotors?

B7 A4 front is 320mm, B6 A4 1.8T is 300mm IIRC, and the B6 A4 3.0 is 312mm.

[daught]

I can't speak from experience on 16's, but my stock 17's don't leave much room at all up front. I also only have the B7 A4 and not the S4 brakes, so they're a bit smaller.

Tirerack lists 16 wheels if I put in 2007 2.0 A4. hmmm

[ADCS]

Do 16" wheels fit over B7 A4 brakes? No way I am giving up 16s in the winter.

I have 16" RS4 reps as winter wheels on my B7. So yes, 16" can fit depending on the specs.

[texasboy21]

B7 A4 front is 320mm, B6 A4 1.8T is 300mm IIRC, and the B6 A4 3.0 is 312mm.

B6 1.8T stock rotors are 288mm. Its posted above.